The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has brought allegations of naira misuse against businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest.
Okechukwu, while appearing before a Federal High Court Presided over by Justice Kehinde Ogundare in Lagos on Wednesday, Pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N10million with two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.
The sureties are to have landed property, and the document must be verified by the court.
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According to the EFCC charge sheet on February 13, 2024, at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, Okechukwu sprayed Naira during a social gathering.
Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had the detained businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, who was preparing for his arraignment today (Wednesday) before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Cubana Chief Priest was said to be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of Naira by allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with journalists yesterday.
Oyewale disclosed, “Yes, the Cubana Chief Priest is in our custody, and he’ll be arraigned in court tomorrow (Wednesday).”
Meanwhile, in a suit filed on April 4, 2024, by the EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and seven other lawyers representing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, it was alleged that Pascal Okechukwu, on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying same for two hours, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, made available to journalists, the commission also alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying the same for two hours.
In Count 3, it was alleged: “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.”
The EFCC had recently secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges for which he was sentenced to six months imprisonment on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Before the arrest of Cubana Chief Priest, the EFCC had on Sunday disclosed that it was probing several celebrities over alleged abuse of Naira notes.
In a statement, 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 public should be cautious about breaking laws against the crime, and the EFCC will not back down from its no-sacred-cow mode of operations.”
The anti-graft agency responded to critics by stating that it would look into fresh instances but would ignore older footage that showed such misbehaviour.
The statement came in reaction to criticism directed at the commission for Bobrisky’s abuse and mutilation of Naira notes, which led to his arrest, incarceration, arraignment, prosecution, and eventual imprisonment.
The EFCC emphasized that although it had received a ton of recordings showing naira abuse, its primary focus will be on looking into and prosecuting new instances of these offences.
Although the EFCC acknowledged that it was pleased to see old films of Naira misuse circulating again, it also acknowledged that its Special Task Force against Naira misuse and Dollarization of the Economy had only recently begun operations on February 7, 2024.
“Members of the public are increasingly drawing the commission’s attention to video recordings of abuse of the Naira by Nigerians from all walks of life,” Oyewale stated.
“These actions clearly show how the public is becoming more aware of the value of our national currency and the necessity of working together to keep the momentum going, He declared.”
The commission will always look into and bring charges against anyone involved in the misuse of the Naira.” He assured
The EFCC boss further stated that the commission is receiving more and more complaints from the public about video footage showing Nigerians from all walks of life abusing the Naira.
Oyewale thanked the people for their participation in the fight against naira abuse and assured them that the EFCC would continue to investigate and bring charges against those responsible.
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