By Milcah Tanimu

Nightlife entrepreneur Okechukwu Paschal, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, has arrived at the Federal High Court in Lagos for his trial concerning allegations of naira abuse.

Accompanied by armed police escorts, Cubana Chief Priest was driven to the court by EFCC operatives around 8:45 am on Wednesday.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had leveled accusations against Cubana Chief Priest, filing a three-count charge against him on Tuesday. The charge, filed by EFCC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, along with seven other legal representatives of the Commission, alleges incidents of tampering with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria during social events.

The document outlines three specific instances of alleged offenses:
1. On February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, Cubana Chief Priest is accused of tampering with funds by spraying them for two hours during a social event.
2. Sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, similar allegations of tampering with funds are made against him.
3. In January 2024, during another social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest is accused of tampering with funds issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

These charges are in violation of Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007, as outlined in the EFCC’s filing.

Cubana Chief Priest’s appearance in court marks the beginning of legal proceedings regarding these allegations, as the judicial process unfolds to determine the outcome of the case.