Pascal Okechukwu, also known by his alias Cubana Chief Priest, is slated to make a courtroom appearance today, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. This comes as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gears up to formally charge him.
Reportedly, the EFCC has held the socialite in custody ahead of his scheduled arraignment before Justice Kehinde Ogundare at the Federal High Court located in Lagos.
Cubana Chief Priest is facing three charges related to the improper handling of Nigerian currency during social gatherings.
The allegations stem from an incident on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel. Here, the EFCC claims Cubana Chief Priest engaged in activities that involved spraying and manipulating ₦500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria. This was for two hours while participating in festivities.
The EFCC’s prosecution team, led by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) along with seven other legal representatives, formally complained on April 4, 2024.
The commission contends that Cubana Chief Priest’s actions violated Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007 and are subject to legal consequences.
In light of the recent conviction of Bobrisky, a prominent figure known for controversial acts, he received a six-month prison sentence for a similar offence. The EFCC released a statement indicating that several celebrities are currently under investigation for alleged misconduct involving the national currency.
In the statement, the agency’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said,
“Many of them have made useful statements to the commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.
“The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime.”
The agency that fights corruption (the anti-graft agency) has been flooded with videos showing people mistreating the Nigerian currency (naira abuse). They made it clear that they would only be looking into and punishing new cases of this kind of behaviour.
