- Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 17, 2024, at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged abuse of the naira.
- He was charged with three counts of tampering with funds in the denomination of N500 while dancing at social events, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
- Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty and was granted a N10 million bail.
Newsypeople- The Federal High Court in Lagos has further adjourned the case against celebrity socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly abusing the Naira.The new court date is set for June 25th.
Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 17th on three counts related to spraying and tampering with Naira notes at a social event held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos. He pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail for N10 million.
Also Read: Police Officer demands arrest of a private school proprietor, teachers over old anthem recitation
During the previous hearing on May 2nd, the defense counsel indicated that both parties were exploring the possibility of settling the case outside of court, following Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act. As a result, a preliminary objection filed by the defense was withdrawn.
Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned Cubana Chief Priest’s trial to June 25 pic.twitter.com/87ViHCjTcb
— Naija (@Naija_PR) June 5, 2024
The court then scheduled June 5th for a progress report on the settlement discussions. However, on Wednesday, it came to light that the defense had requested an adjournment. The court has now granted the request and rescheduled the case for June 25th.
The charges against Cubana Chief Priest allege that he tampered with N500 notes while dancing at the social event, which is a violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
The case has garnered significant attention, with the EFCC recently sentencing controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, to a six-month jail term for similar charges.
As the case progresses, all eyes will be on the June 25th hearing to see if a settlement can be reached or if the matter will proceed to trial. The outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for the enforcement of laws governing the use of the Naira in Nigeria.
Also Read: Regina Daniels, Yul, Pete Edochie On New Movie Set Sparks Social Media Buzz
