A member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate socialite and businessman Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, over allegations concerning the source of his wealth and possible money laundering.
Ogah, who represents the Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, made the call while reacting to recent comments by Cubana Chief Priest criticising Governor Francis Nwifuru.
In a video statement, the lawmaker questioned the businessman’s background, source of income and what he described as his basis for publicly attacking the Ebonyi State governor.
“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What does he do for a living? Who gave him the audacity to speak against the Ebonyi State Governor? Is it about drinking?” Ogah asked.
The lawmaker subsequently called on the EFCC to examine Cubana Chief Priest’s financial activities and establish the source of his wealth.
The call followed comments by Cubana Chief Priest in which he questioned the level of development recorded in Ebonyi State since Governor Nwifuru assumed office in 2023.
The socialite had questioned how the governor could have spent almost three years in office without major projects being commissioned in the state by President Bola Tinubu or other state governors.
He also compared Ebonyi with other states in the South-East and expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the pace of development in the state.
Cubana Chief Priest further criticised the state’s political leadership, alleging that Ebonyi had failed to move with the times.
Reacting to the comments, Ogah accused the socialite of attempting to undermine Governor Nwifuru and, by extension, the interests of Ebonyi State.
The lawmaker also linked the controversy to the wider political situation in the South-East and the Tinubu administration, alleging that Cubana Chief Priest was part of efforts to undermine the Federal Government’s development initiatives in the region.
Ogah made other allegations against the businessman, including a claim that he arranged for hoodlums to remove items from a stadium and take them to his residence. He also questioned how Cubana Chief Priest had built his public profile and financial standing at a relatively young age.
The lawmaker further referenced the socialite’s recent political activities in Imo State, where he had sought the APC House of Representatives ticket ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Cubana Chief Priest later said he voluntarily withdrew from the race following consultations with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and discussions concerning the party’s zoning arrangement in the constituency.
Reports had earlier suggested that he failed to secure the APC ticket, but he denied participating in the primary election.
Earlier in 2026, Cubana Chief Priest publicly expressed support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid and presented himself as a supporter of the administration’s political agenda in the South-East.
Meanwhile, Ogah’s latest call for an EFCC investigation comes against the backdrop of Cubana Chief Priest’s previous encounter with the anti-graft agency.
In 2024, the EFCC prosecuted him before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged abuse of the naira after he was accused of spraying and tampering with Nigerian currency at a social event.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, while the matter was later resolved through an out-of-court settlement.
That previous case was separate from the money-laundering allegations now raised by Ogah.
There is currently no indication that the EFCC has opened a new investigation into Cubana Chief Priest based on the allegations contained in the lawmaker’s latest statement.
The latest allegations remain claims by Ogah and have not been established as findings of the EFCC or any court.
