Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty for alleged naira abuse.
He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Cubana Chief Priest appeared before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, facing three charges related to the alleged abuse of the naira by spraying and tampering with it at a social event, which goes against the Central Bank Act of 2007.
The incident allegedly occurred on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel.
According to reports, Cubana Chief Priest was dancing at the social event when he allegedly committed the offenses.
It is said that he dispersed ₦500 notes, provided by the Central Bank of Nigeria through spraying for two hours during this occasion.
In Count 1, it was stated, “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 offense, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In count 2, it was stated, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of ₦500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offense, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In the meantime, the accused also made the court aware of his impending request to contest the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.
The application hearing has been postponed till May 2nd by Justice Ogundare.