Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest was on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, brought before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos for alleged abuse of Naira.
But unlike the popular crossdresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye (Bobrisky), Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and was released on bail in the sum of N10million.
Cubana Chief Priest dragged to court by EFCC
The socialite was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare.
The EFCC filed a three-count charge against Pascal Okechukwu accusing him of abusing the Naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
Cubana Chief Priest faces 3-count charge of illegal spraying
The three-count charge against Okechukwu was filed on April 4 by Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the EFCC.
Below are the charge against him.
In Count 1, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th February 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”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “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”.
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”.
During the court proceeding of the businessman, the defendant’s counsel, Chikaosolo Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court that he had filed two applications on behalf of his client.
Ojukwu told Justice Ogundare that his client filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to try him.
He also informed the court that he filed a bail application for the defendant and urged the court to grant his client bail in the most liberal terms.
Ojukwu cited some sections of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, and told the court that the defence has served the two applications on the prosecution.
He urged the court to allow him to argue his application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.
The prosecuting counsel of the EFCC, Bilikisu Buhari, who confirmed the service of the two applications, however, opposed his submission and urged the court to allow the defendant to take his plea first.
Ojukwu said he had no objections to his client taking his plea when asked by the court. “This is premature. I am just informing the court about the pending applications. If it is just to take his plea, it’s okay but most times, the court would take objections sometimes before plea. Our contention is for the preliminary objection to be taken first,” he said. Thereafter, the three-count charge was read, and Okechukwu pleaded not guilty.
Citing Section 396 of ACJA, Ojukwu argued that the offence for which his client was charged is a misdemeanor which carried six months imprisonment or N50,000 fine or both.
He urged the court to exercise discretion in favour of the defendant. He said the defendant has over 1,000 employees who are dependent on his small business.
Citing Section 163 ACJA, he urged the court to grant him bail in liberal terms, saying “the defendant is not well. He has palpitation of the heart.”
The defence urged the court to release the defendant to him saying he has not flouted the administrative bail given to him. “I would take him on my honour and perfect bail conditions in 14 days.”
Justice Ogundare granted the defendant bail in the sum of N10 million, with three sureties in like sum. He said one of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 16 in Federal or Lagos State government service.
The judge said the other two must be gainfully employed and have property within the jurisdiction of the court, and that the title documents of the properties must be verified by the deputy registrar of the court.
The judge, while handing over the defendant to his lawyer, Ojukwu, ordered that the bail conditions must be fulfilled within seven days, failure of which the bail will be revoked.
Justice Ogundare adjourned till May 2 for trial and for the hearing of pending applications bordering on the jurisdiction of the court to hear the suit.
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