The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign social media influencer Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, on allegations of improperly handling the Nigerian currency.
Scheduled for Wednesday, April 17th, 2024, his case will be heard before Justice Kehinde Ogundare at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Cubana Chief Priest is facing a three-count charge, accusing him of spraying and tampering with N500 notes during several social events, actions that contravene the Central Bank Act of 2007.
The charges, as outlined by EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) and a team of seven lawyers, were officially filed on April 4th, as reported by Channels TV.
The specific allegations include: “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 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.”
This legal action follows closely on the heels of the recent sentencing of Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, who received a six-month jail term on similar charges, signaling a crackdown on public misuse of the naira by the EFCC.
