Naira Abuse: Cubana Chief Priest Returns Home after Arraignment

The Economic and Financial Crimes, on Wednesday, arraigned Lagos-based socialite,  Pascal Okechukwu, alias Cubana Chief Priest, for alleged abuse of the naira note.

Cubana Chief Priest, who was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He was subsequently granted N10m bail with two sureties in like sum and released to return home rather than remanded in the prison custody.

The judge granted the bail following an application for the same by the defence counsel, Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN).

Ojukwu urged the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.

Before the arraignment, Ojukwu had informed the court that he had a preliminary application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try the defendant.

He also told the court that the defence filed a 25-paragraph bail application dated April 17, 2024.

Ojukwu told the court that the bail application was based on eight grounds and asked the court to grant his client bail since the offence was bailable.

He also noted that the maximum punishment for the offence was six months imprisonment with an option of fine.

Citing Section 163 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, Ojukwu said, “If Your Lordship grants him bail and gives 14 days, in my honour, I will perfect his bail.

“He is sick and the EFCC brought him from the hospital this morning. He has heart palpitations if you look at his weight. It is not in every case that remand is necessary. He has over 1,000 employees who are hungry; even at this moment, they are praying for My Lord to grant him bail in liberal terms.”

The prosecution counsel, Bilikisu Buhari, did not oppose the bail application.

The judge, in his ruling, granted the prayer and gave him seven days to perfect the bail conditions or he would be sent to prison.

The judge said, “One of the sureties must have landed property within the court’s jurisdiction with title documents. The defendant must submit his passport to the court registrar.

“The bail must be perfected within seven days as taken by the SAN. Failure to perfect the bail conditions, the defendant would be remanded at the correctional centre.”

The judge, subsequently, adjourned till May 2 for the commencement of trial.

Cubana Chief Priest was, thereafter, driven away from the court premises in a Sport Utility Vehicle.

Taking to his Instagram page shortly after, the socialite hinted that he would easily perfect the bail and condition and avoid going to prison.

Addressing his supporters, he wrote: “Seeing all your messages and love. I’m so humbled. Now it’s confirmed CP (Cubana Priest) is not small. Money na water (sic).”

Earlier at the trial, the EFCC, in the three counts filed against Cubana Chief Priest, alleged that the socialite abused the naira by spraying the currency at a social event at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The EFCC counsel, Buhari, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on February 13, 2024, while dancing during the said social event.

According to the prosecution, the socialite was caught spraying N500 notes for two hours during the event.

The prosecutor said Cubana Chief Priest acted contrary to the provisions of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.

He, however, pleaded not guilty.

The EFCC had on Tuesday arrested the socialite and detained him overnight ahead of his Wednesday arraignment.

His trial comes days after the anti-graft agency secured the conviction of controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, alias Bobrisky, for naira abuse.

The same Federal High Court in Lagos last Friday sentenced Bobrisky to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.