Famous Nigerian socialite and Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest,has been granted a N10 million bail by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The bail was granted after he pleaded not guilty to alleged naira abuse charges leveled against him by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission (EFCC).
The bail comes with the provision of two responsible sureties in like sum who are gainfully employed with the federal or state government, not below grade level 16 and have landed property whose documents must be verified by the court.
Part of the bail condition states that Cubana must submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
According to the judge, the bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but Cubana Chief Priest was in the meantime released to his lawyer who gave an undertaken to produce him later.
The EFCC arraigned Cubana before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts of spraying and abusing Naira notes at a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos.
After the charge was read to Cubana Chief Priest, he pleaded not guilty to the charge, led by his counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN).
While making an appearance for the defendant, Ojukwu informed the court of a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction and a bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
While moving the bail application of the defendant, Ojukwu urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms as he was a first offender and was suffering from an unnamed health condition including palpitation owing to his weight.
Also, Ojukwu made the court know that the offence which the defendant is charged is a misdemeanour with the prescribed punishment ranging from a fine of N50,000 or an imprisonment term of six months.
He urged the court to grant bail on very liberal terms to the defendant as he is a first offender with no past criminal records.
He also informed the court that the defendant is an employer of labour with more than 1000 employees on his payroll, who are dependent on their jobs, and urged the court to grant his application as moved.
While ruling on submission, Justice Ogundare, granted the bail application and adjourned the case till May 2, 2024 for ruling.
