The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, on Wednesday, April 17th, facing charges related to money laundering and other offenses. These charges stem from allegations that he engaged in the spray-painting and tampering of Nigerian currency, in violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007, during a social gathering.
The arraignment is scheduled to take place before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
According to a copy of the charge obtained by Platinum Times Nigeria, the EFCC's prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), along with seven other lawyers representing the Commission, filed the charge on April 4th.
Count 1 of the charge alleges that on February 13th, 2024, at Eko Hotel in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying them for two hours. This action is said to be in violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In Count 2, it is alleged that Cubana Chief Priest engaged in similar conduct during a social event in Lagos in 2020, also involving funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira), which is punishable under the same section of the Central Bank Act.
Count 3 of the charge pertains to an incident in January 2024, where Cubana Chief Priest allegedly tampered with N500 (Five Hundred Naira) notes during a social gathering in Lagos, thereby violating the Central Bank Act.
This legal action comes shortly after the EFCC's arraignment of Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, on similar charges, resulting in a six-month jail term.
In light of these developments, Cubana Chief Priest is poised to defend himself against the accusations leveled by the EFCC. The outcome of this legal process will undoubtedly attract significant attention and scrutiny from both the public and legal observers.
It's worth noting that the EFCC's pursuit of individuals for currency-related offenses underscores the seriousness with which such actions are regarded under Nigerian law. As such, Cubana Chief Priest's case represents yet another instance where individuals in the public eye are held accountable for alleged financial misconduct.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Nigerian public awaits the outcome with keen interest, as it may serve as a precedent for future cases involving similar offenses.
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