Following his plea of not guilty, the court granted him bail set at ₦10 million, requiring two dependable sureties, each with a similar sum, employed at the federal or state government level and holding a position not lower than grade level 16.
Pascal Okechukwu, famously known as Cubana Chief Priest, has pleaded not guilty concerning allegations of Naira abuse. He faced a three-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The socialite’s plea was made during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.
The charges stem from accusations of Cubana Chief Priest mishandling the Nigerian currency at a social gathering, an act deemed to contravene the stipulations of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
Following his plea of not guilty, the court granted him bail set at ₦10 million, requiring two dependable sureties, each with a similar sum, employed at the federal or state government level and holding a position not lower than grade level 16.
Additionally, the sureties must possess tangible assets, and their documentation must undergo court verification.
Furthermore, Cubana Chief Priest is obligated to surrender his travel passport to the court’s custody.
The terms of his bail must be met within seven days, during which he has been released to his legal representative, who must provide an undertaking to produce him as needed. Failure to comply will result in his remand in a correctional facility.
According to 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”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “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”.
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”.
