Cubana Chief Priest.
Mr. Pascal Okechukwu, businessman and socialite, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, Wednesday pleaded not guilty to charges bordering on ‘abuse of Naira’, and was granted N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum, by the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives on Tuesday filed a three-count charge against the social media celebrity.
Cubana, was accused of spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts of spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event at Eko hotel in Lagos.
Read the counts against the Instagram celebrity: “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 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”.
When the case was called on Wednesday, Mrs. Bilikisu Buhari, appeared for the prosecution while Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, announced appearance for the defendant.
The defence counsel then first informed the court of a preliminary objection challenging the courts jurisdiction as well as a bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
He informed the court that the prosecution was not opposed to same.
After the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to it.
In moving the bail application of the defendant, his counsel urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
He told the court that the defendant was admitted by the prosecution following his health condition, adding that due to his weight, the defendant suffers palpitation.
Besides, he told the court that the offence with which the defendant was charged was a misdemeanor and that the prescribed punishment ranged from a fine of N50,000 or an imprisonment term of six months.
He urged the court to grant bail on very liberal terms to the defendant as he was a first offender with no past criminal records.
His counsel also informed the court that the defendant was an employer of labour with over 1,000 employees on his payroll, who are dependent on their jobs.
He, consequently, urged the court to grant his application as moved.
In response, the prosecutor said she would leave the issue of bail to the discretion of the court.
Kehinde Ogundare, the judge, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The sureties must be employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16, who must own landed property and document which must be verified by the court.
Cubana is also expected to submit his travel passport to the court.
The judge ruled that the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days.
Cubana was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. He will be remanded in correctional facility if his lawyer failed to do so.
