Breaking: Cubana Chief Priest Enters Not Guilty Plea, Granted ₦10m Bail

Instagram sensation Pascal Okechukwu, famously known as Cubana Chief Priest, has entered a plea of not guilty to charges of alleged naira abuse.

He denied the three-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) during his arraignment at the Federal High Court in Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.

The charges stem from accusations that Cubana Chief Priest indulged in the misuse of the naira at a social gathering, contravening the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

Following his plea, the court granted him bail set at ₦10 million with two reputable sureties, each in the same amount, who must be gainfully employed by the federal or state government at no less than grade level 16.

Additionally, the sureties must possess landed property verified by the court, and Cubana Chief Priest must surrender his travel passport to the court.

He has seven days to meet the bail conditions, and in the interim, he was released into the custody of his lawyer, who provided an undertaking to ensure his appearance in court. Failure to comply will result in his remand in a correctional facility.

The charge, dated April 4th, was filed by the EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) along with seven other lawyers representing the Commission.

The first count alleges that Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 during a social event at Eko Hotel on February 13, 2024, contrary to Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.

The second and third counts make similar allegations regarding events in Lagos during a social gathering in 2020 and January 2024, respectively.

Meanwhile, Cubana Chief Priest informed the court of his intention to challenge its jurisdiction to hear the charges. Justice Ogundare adjourned the case until May 2nd to hear this application.

This development follows the recent arraignment of controversial figure Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on related charges, resulting in a six-month jail sentence.