Today, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, before the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of abusing the Nigerian currency, the Naira.
Cubana Chief Priest is facing a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event, which contravenes provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007. The arraignment is scheduled before Justice Kehinde Ogundare.
The suit, filed on April 4, 2024, by the EFCC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and seven other lawyers representing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, alleges that on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying them for two hours, violating Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In a charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, the commission also alleged that during a social event in Lagos in 2020, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying them for two hours.
Additionally, in Count 3, it is alleged that in January 2024, during another social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying them, further violating Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
This development follows the EFCC’s announcement earlier on Sunday that it is investigating several celebrities over alleged abuse of Naira notes, signaling a crackdown on such offenses within the country.
