Cubana Chief Priest has been granted N10m bail over Naira abuse.
Newsone Nigeria reports that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, Nigeria’s commercial city, has granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum.
This online news platform understands that Cubana Chief Priest had earlier pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.
The celebrity barman as he is fondly called was arraigned before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on three counts of spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos.
When the case was called on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, Bilikisu Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, announced an appearance for the defendant.
The defence counsel then first informed the court of a preliminary objection challenging the courts jurisdiction as well as a bail application filed on behalf of the defendant.
He informed the court that the prosecution was not opposed to same.
After the charge was read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the charge.
In moving the bail application of the defendant, his counsel urged the court to grant him bail on liberal terms.
He told the court that the defendant was admitted by the prosecution following his health condition, adding that due to his weight, the defendant suffers palpitation.
Besides, he told the court that the offence with which the defendant is charged is a misdemeanor and that the prescribed punishment ranges 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.
His counsel also informed the court that the defendant is an employer of labour with over 1000 employees on his payroll, who are dependent on their jobs.
He, consequently, urged the court to grant his application as moved.
In response, the prosecutor said she would leave the issue of bail to the court’s discretion.
Meanwhile, Newsone reports that after the Celebrity barman was granted bail, Cubana Chief Priest boasted that money is nothing to worry about, noting that he has it in abundance flowing like water.
Posting a picture of himself after the judgement, he captioned, “Seeing All You Messages & Love I’m So Humbled. Now It’s Confirmed CP No Small. Money & Na Water.”