Naira Abuse: Cubana Chief Priest Pleads Not Guilty, Granted N10m Bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.

The celebrity bar man had earlier pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.

It would be recalled that Cubana Chief Priest is being accused of spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007, was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of naira,

One of the charge reads: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime 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 same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

Its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said, “Many of them have made useful statements to the commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.

The EFCC appreciated the resurgence of old videos of Naira abuse making the rounds, it was, however, sensitive to the fact that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the Economy commenced operations on February 7, 2024.

Oyewale said “Increasingly, members of the public are drawing the attention of the commission to video recordings of abuse of the Naira by Nigerians from all walks of life.

“These gestures amply demonstrate the rising consciousness of the public to the sanctity of our national currency and the need for collaborative engagement to sustain the tempo.

“The commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira,” he said.