Naira abuse: How defense counsels secured N10m bail for Cubana Chief priest

The Federal High Court in Lagos State, on Wednesday, granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10m bail with two sureties in like sum.

Earlier, the celebrity bar man pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.

Cubana Chief Priest was represented By Sir Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), Dr. Bimpe Ajegbomogun and Ayi-Imah Ekpeyong.

Cubana Chief Priest was 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.

He was alleged to have sprayed the naira on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel.

Cubana Chief Priest was said to have also committed the offences while dancing during a social event.

He was said to have tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the CBN by spraying the same for two hours.

In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, obtained by  our corresponded, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.”

Speaking after securing the bail of the Cubana Chief Priest, one of his lawyer, Dr. Bimpe Ajegbomogun revealed that after filling the bail application, council to EFCC did not oppose the bail but left it for the discretion of the court, National Daily gathered that before now he has been on administration bail by the EFF and didn’t abuse his bail. Also while he was at the EFCC custody over the night, he was admitted in their hospital and brought in from their hospital to take a plea.

The case has been adjoured to 2nd May for hearing of applications.