![[JUST IN] Naira Abuse: Cubana Chief Priest Arrives Lagos Court](https://thecrux.com.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Cubana-1.jpg)
Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of alleged naira abuse.
Facing a three-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.
Cubana Chief Priest is accused by the EFCC of naira abuse during a public event, a violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
Following his not guilty plea, he was granted bail for ₦10 million with two sureties in a similar amount. The sureties must be gainfully employed by the federal or state government at a minimum of grade level 16 and possess verified landed property.
Cubana Chief Priest is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime, he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. Failure to do so, he will be remanded in correctional facility.
Channels Television obtained a copy of the charge which was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.
In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
READ ALSO: [JUST IN] Naira Abuse: Cubana Chief Priest Arrives Lagos Court
In the second count, it was alleged that “Okechukwu Pascal, at some time in 2020 in Lagos, during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same for two hours, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”
In the third count, it was alleged that “Okechukwu Pascal, at some time in January 2024 in Lagos, during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same, thereby committing an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”
This follows the recent arraignment of the controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, known as Bobrisky, on similar charges, resulting in a six-month jail sentence.
