Prominent Nigerian nightlife promoter, Cubana Chief Priest, has pleaded not guilty to charges related to the abuse of the Nigerian currency, the naira.
Following his not guilty plea, the court then granted the socialite bail to the tune of N10 million.
On Tuesday, operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a three-count charge against the social media celebrity.
Cubana, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, stands accused of unlawfully spraying and tampering with the naira during a social event, which is in violation of the provisions outlined in the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He was, on Wednesday, arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The counts read against him were as follows, “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.
“That you Okechukwu Pascal sometime 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 same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
“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.”
However, Cubana Chief Priest, after listening to the charges read against him, pleaded not guilty.
Following his plea of not guilty, the court granted Cubana Chief Priest bail in the sum of ₦10 million. This bail requires two responsible sureties, each in a like sum, who must be gainfully employed with either the federal or state government, holding positions not below grade level 16.
Additionally, the sureties are required to possess landed property, the documentation of which must be verified by the court.
As part of the bail conditions, Cubana Chief Priest must surrender his travel passport to the custody of the court.
These bail conditions are to be fulfilled within seven days. In the interim, he has been released into the custody of his lawyer, who must provide an undertaking to ensure Cubana Chief Priest’s appearance in court at the designated times. Failure to do so may result in his remand in a correctional facility.
Cubana Chief Priest’s arraignment comes after the EFCC, on April 5, secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges for which he was sentenced to six-month imprisonment.
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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