Nigerian socialite and businessman Cubana Chief Priest, whose real name is Pascal Okechukwu, faced three counts of banknote abuse during a recent court appearance, where he pleaded not guilty.
The charges stemmed from incidents where he threw money into the air at social events, a practice known as “spraying,” which is common at Nigerian weddings and celebrations.
Authorities highlighted that spraying money can lead to notes falling on the ground and being trodden on, constituting a technical offence.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in Nigeria has been leading efforts against such forms of naira abuse.
The EFCC accused Okechukwu of tampering with 500 naira notes at events in Lagos this year. Following his court appearance at Lagos’ Federal High Court, he was granted bail set at 10 million naira.
Okechukwu, who owns a popular nightclub in Delta State, took to Instagram to express gratitude for the support received from his followers.
However, this case follows similar incidents involving celebrities. Bobrisky was recently sentenced to six months in prison for banknote abuse, with the judge citing the damage to the country’s image.
Actress Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin also faced six months in prison for similar offences.
The EFCC has been actively investigating several celebrities for alleged banknote abuse, with prosecutions and convictions already underway.
Source-BBC
