Popular socialite and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has threatened legal action against member of the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, following the lawmaker’s call for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to investigate his financial activities.
Cubana Chief Priest made his position known in a series of posts on his Instagram Story on Saturday, accusing Ogah, who represents Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, of attempting to damage his reputation because of his criticism of the administration of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.
The socialite described the lawmaker as a “hit man” allegedly sent by Governor Nwifuru to attack his personality and reputation.
Cubana Chief Priest said he would sue the lawmaker, insisting that there was a functioning legal system in Nigeria and that he would challenge what he described as an attack against him.
He also boasted about his large social media following and his relationships with several state governors, saying he could not be intimidated by Ogah’s call for an EFCC investigation.
According to him, he has more than 10 governors as personal friends and claimed that the lawmaker would soon realise the consequences of his comments.
Cubana Chief Priest further claimed that he had greater political value to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu than Ogah, describing himself as a promoter of the President.
He questioned why President Tinubu had visited several states in the South-East but had not, according to him, commissioned major projects in Ebonyi State.
His reaction followed comments by Ogah calling on the EFCC to investigate Cubana Chief Priest over his criticism of Governor Nwifuru.
The lawmaker had questioned the socialite’s background, occupation and source of income, while faulting him for publicly criticising the Ebonyi State governor.
Ogah reportedly asked, “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?”
The federal lawmaker also alleged that Cubana Chief Priest could be involved in money laundering and urged the anti-graft agency to scrutinise his financial activities.
Ogah further accused the socialite of allegedly working against President Tinubu’s developmental efforts in the South-East.
The controversy was triggered by Cubana Chief Priest’s earlier criticism of Governor Nwifuru’s administration, particularly over what he described as the absence of major projects commissioned by President Tinubu or other state governors in Ebonyi since Nwifuru assumed office.
The socialite had called for Governor Nwifuru’s resignation and questioned the administration’s record, alleging that Ebonyi was the only South-East state yet to experience significant development.
He also criticised political leaders in the state, accusing them of operating with what he described as an outdated mindset and arguing that they were not doing enough to move Ebonyi forward.
Cubana Chief Priest’s latest comments have now escalated the controversy, with the socialite threatening to take legal action against Ogah over the lawmaker’s statements, while Ogah’s call for an EFCC probe remains at the centre of the dispute.
