Famous businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, has been detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in preparation for his arraignment today (Wednesday) before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

According to the PUNCH, the socialite will be arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts bordering on abuse of naira by allegedly spraying and tampering with the nation’s currency at a social event, contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.

This was confirmed by the spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, on Tuesday.

Oyewale revealed, “Yes, the Cubana Chief Priest is in our custody, and he’ll be arraigned in court tomorrow (Wednesday).”

Meanwhile, in a suit filed on April 4, 2024, by the EFC’s prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), and seven other lawyers representing the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, it was alleged that Pascal Okechukwu, on February 13, 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by spraying same for two hours, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.

In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, the commission also alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, the Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, 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 offense, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”

Recall that popular crossdresser Bobrisky was convicted and jailed for six months for committing the same crime, which received a backlash from the people on why the EFCC detained a first-time offender when there were other culprits from all walks of life who had committed the same crime.

EFCC, through its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said, “ The commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira.

“The EFCC will not relent in its no-sacred-cow mode of operations, and the public should be wary of running afoul of laws against the crime.”