Mutilation of the Naira: Cubana Chief Priest granted a N10 million bail

Pascal Okechukwu, also referred to as Cubana Chief Priest, is a businessman and socialite. He was charged on Wednesday with using naira notes for offensive purposes and tampering with them before a Lagos Federal High Court.

The chief priest of Cubana, who entered a not guilty plea, was still granted bail in the amount of N10 million, accompanied by two sureties in the same amount.

In this case, Justice Ogundare is the trial judge.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, also known as the EFCC, is prosecuting the senior priest of Cuba.

During the arraignment, the defendant allegedly committed the crime on February 13, 2024, while dancing at a social gathering at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, according to the EFCC’s attorney, Bilikisu Buhari.

The prosecution further told the court that Cubana Chief Priest had tampered with money in N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by spraying the notes for two hours while dancing at a social function.

The commission added that at some point in 2020, at a social gathering in Lagos, Cubana tampered with N500 worth of CBN money by spraying it for two hours.

It also stated that in January 2024, at a social gathering in Lagos State, Cubana tampered with N500 worth of CBN-issued money by spraying the same.

According to the commission, the acts are against Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007 and are therefore punishable.

Yet, the accused entered a not guilty plea to the allegations made against him. His attorney, Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, then begged the court to give his client the most lenient bail conditions.