Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos has granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu a.k.a Cubana Chief Priest, N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
The celebrity bar man pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
EFCC had arraigned the celeb on three counts of spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He was alleged to have committed the offence on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel.
In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying the same for two hours.
In Count 3, it was alleged: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in January 2024, in Lagos 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 and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
After he pleaded not guilty, the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦10m with two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.
The sureties are to have landed property and the document must be verified by the court.
The Cubana Chief Priest was also ordered to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
Justice Ogundare adjourned the case till May 2nd.
