The Federal High Court in Lagos State granted Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties of the same amount.
Cubana Chief Priest, a businessman and socialite, had earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering with and abusing the Nigerian currency during his trial.
He was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts related to the abuse of the naira, allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, which contravenes the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
The alleged incident took place on February 13th, 2024, at Eko Hotel, where Cubana Chief Priest was accused of spraying the naira while dancing during a social event, specifically tampering with N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria for two hours.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Cubana Chief Priest also tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 during a social event in Lagos in 2020.
In response to the charges, the EFCC secured the conviction of another public figure, Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, for similar offenses, resulting in a six-month imprisonment on April 12th, 2024.
The EFCC further disclosed its ongoing investigation into several celebrities for alleged abuse of Naira notes, emphasizing its commitment to upholding the law and urging the public to be mindful of engaging in activities that violate currency regulations.
Cubana Chief Priest’s case underscores the EFCC’s vigilance in enforcing financial regulations and serves as a reminder to all individuals, including celebrities, of the consequences of flouting currency laws.