Popular businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, reacted following his release on bail after fulfilling a N10 million bond requirement with two sureties.
Okechukwu, who gained fame as a celebrity barman, took to Instagram shortly after his arraignment today to express gratitude for the overwhelming support he received.
He declared in post, “Seeing all your messages and love. I’m so humbled. Now it’s confirmed CP (Cubana Priest) is not small. Money na water (sic).”
He pleaded not guilty to charges of tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.
The arraignment, presided over by Justice Kehinde Ogundare, focused on three counts related to the alleged abuse of Nigeria’s currency, as outlined in the Central Bank Act of 2007.
According to the charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Cubana Chief Priest was accused of engaging in acts of currency abuse during social events.
The allegations include spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency, particularly during an event at Eko Hotel on February 13, 2024.
In one of the charges, it was specified that Okechukwu Pascal, during a social event in Lagos in 2020, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying the same for two hours.
Another charge relates to a similar incident that allegedly occurred in January 2024.
The case against Cubana Chief Priest shows the legal ramifications of tampering with the national currency, a violation punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
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