THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a three-count charge against a popular Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the naira at a social event, which is contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
According to media reports, Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
In Count 1 of the charge, which was filed on April 4, 2024, by EFFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the Chairman of the Commission, it was alleged, “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”.
In Count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos 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”.
In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos 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 and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
Note that the arraignment is coming days after the EFCC arraigned Bobrisky on similar charges for which he was sentenced to 6 months in jail.
