Cubana Chief Priest pleads not guilty to naira abuse charges

Businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, known as Cubana Chief Priest, entered a plea of not guilty during his trial at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday. He faces charges related to the alleged abuse and tampering of the Nigerian currency, the naira, at a social event, in violation of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

Arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, the Cubana Chief Priest faced three counts of naira abuse. The charges stem from an incident on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, where he allegedly sprayed N500 notes while dancing during a social gathering.

The prosecution alleges that Cubana Chief Priest tampered with N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying them for an extended period during the event. Cubana Chief Priest maintained his innocence during the court proceedings despite the charges.