UPDATED: Cubana Chief Priest gets N10m bail for alleged Naira abuse

Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, is a Nigerian nightlife entrepreneur and social media celebrity based in Abuja. He was recently arraigned before an FCT High Court in Abuja on a three-count charge of Naira abuse, contrary to Section 21(a) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act, 2007.

According to reports, Cubana Chief Priest was arrested on March 23, 2023, following a viral video on social media where he was seen spraying bundles of new naira notes during an event, despite the CBN's directive that old naira notes would no longer be legal tender as of February 10, 2023.

The charges against him read, "That you, Paschal Okechukwu, on or about the 23rd day of March, 2023, at Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did spray and distribute mutilated, defaced, torn, soiled, abused, mutilated, defaced, torn, soiled, and mutilated Bank of Nigeria notes of the value of Five Hundred Naira (N500) and One Thousand Naira (N1,000) respectively, which were no longer legal tender as at the time of the act, and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 21(a) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007, and punishable under Section 21(d) of the same Act."

Cubana Chief Priest, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges when they were read to him in court on March 27, 2023. His counsel, Barrister A. A. Olanipekun, applied for his bail, stating that his client had been in detention since his arrest on March 23, 2023, and that he had a good standing in society, with numerous businesses and properties spread across Abuja, Lagos, and Imo State.

The presiding judge, Justice A. O. Musa, granted him bail in the sum of Ten Million Naira (N10,000,000) with two sureties in like sum, who must be residents of Abuja with evidence of tax payment, and must deposit their international passports with the court registry. The judge also ordered that the defendant be remanded in Kuje Prison until he fulfills the bail conditions.

The case was adjourned till May 2, 2023, for hearing, while the prosecution counsel, Mr. A. A. Mohammed, was ordered to file his witness statements and other relevant documents before the next adjourned date.

It is important to note that the use of old naira notes, which ceased to be legal tender on February 10, 2023, is against the CBN's directive, and anyone found guilty of such an offense is liable to a fine of N5,000 or imprisonment for six months or both, according to Section 21(d) of the CBN Act, 2007.