Alleged Naira Abuse: Court grants ‘Cubana Chief Priest’ N10m bail

The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Kehinde Ogundare, yesterday, granted bail in the sum of N10m 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, to a businessman and social media celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as ‘Cubana Chief Priest’.

The judge arrived at the decision, after ‘Cubana Chief Priest’, pleaded not guilty to a three-count of tampering and abusing the naira, slammed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC).

In his ruling on the defendant’s bail application, Justice Ogundare held that the sureties are to have landed properties and the document must be verified by the court.

While adding that the ‘Cubana Chief Priest’ is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court, Justice Ogundare declared that the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days.

The judge, however, released him to his lawyer who must give an undertaking to produce him later, and that failure to do so, he will be remanded in the correctional facility.

Specifically, the ‘Cubana Chief Priest’ was dragged before the court over his alleged involvement in the abuse of the naira by spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event while dancing, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

The defendant was equally alleged to have tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the CBN by spraying the same for two hours.

The charge against the ‘Cubana Chief Priest’, reads: “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 the 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.”

While the arraignment lasted, the ‘Cubana Chief Priest’ hinted to Justice Ogundare of his intention to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge, prompting the judge to adjourn until May 2 for the hearing of the application.