Entertainment
Naira abuse: EFCC detains Cubana Chief Priest ahead of arraignment today
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has detained businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, preparatory to his arraignment today (Wednesday) before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Cubana Chief Priest 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.
The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent 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 EFFC’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 offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.
In the charge marked FHC/L/ 246/2024, obtained by The PUNCH, the commission also alleged that sometime in 2020, during a social event in Lagos, Cubana Chief Priest tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria, by 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 offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.”
The EFCC, on April 5, 2024, secured the conviction of popular cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye, also known as Bobrisky, on similar charges for which he was sentenced to six-month imprisonment on Friday, April 12, 2024.
Earlier on Sunday, the EFCC revealed that it was probing several celebrities over alleged abuse of Naira notes.
In a statement, its spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, said, “Many of them have made useful statements to the commission and many more have been invited by investigators working on the matter.
“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.”
In response to critics, the anti-graft agency further clarified that it would overlook old videos exposing such misdemeanour, while noting that it would, however, probe new cases.
The clarification was in response to the backlash against the commission over the arrest, detention, arraignment, prosecution, and subsequent conviction of Bobrisky over abuse and mutilation of Naira notes.
The EFCC stressed that while the commission had been inundated with videos depicting naira abuse, it would focus on investigating and prosecuting new cases of such infractions.
The EFCC noted that while the commission appreciated the resurgence of old videos of Naira abuse making the rounds, it was, however, sensitive to the fact that its Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the Economy commenced operations on February 7, 2024.
Oyewale wrote, “Increasingly, members of the public are drawing the attention of the commission to video recordings of abuse of the Naira by Nigerians from all walks of life.
“These gestures amply demonstrate the rising consciousness of the public to the sanctity of our national currency and the need for collaborative engagement to sustain the tempo.
“The commission will always investigate and prosecute anyone involved in the abuse of the Naira,” he said.
Expressing gratitude for the public’s engagement in combating naira abuse, Oyewale assured that the EFCC remains committed to probing and prosecuting individuals involved in such acts.
Entertainment
Speed Darlington petitions DIG over continued detention
Nigerian singer, Darlington Achakpo, also known as Speed Darlington, has petitioned the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Intelligence Bureau in Abuja, DIG Dasuki Galadanchi, asking him to comply with a court order on his continued detention.
In a letter addressed dated January 8, 2025, the singer’s counsel, Rosemary E. Hamza, from the Chambers of Deji Adeyanju & Partners, emphasised that the court order issued by Justice M.S. Liman on December 23, 2024, directed the police to charge Speed Darlington within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
The letter copied to the Deputy Chief Registrar, Federal High Court in Abuja, is titled: ‘Re; Unlawful Detention Of Darlington Achakpo.’
The letter reads, “As you are no doubt aware, the Federal High Court, per Hon. Justice M.S. Liman, on the 23rd day of December 2024, directed the police authorities to charge our client to court within 48 hours or release him unconditionally.
“On January 6, 2025, the court reiterated the order and urged the police authorities to release him to the lead counsel, our own, Marshal Abubakar, who shall produce him in court for trial.
“Although our client was served with a bail term on January 6, 2025 (a copy is herein attached to this correspondence) requesting him to produce a Grade Level 16 civil servant, Marshal Abubakar, Esq and Mazi David Ihuoma, Esq were at the FIB on January 7, 2025, with a surety to fulfil the bail conditions you imposed.
“However, events and happenings on that day left much to be desired as several calls and messages sent to you by Abubakar Marshal, Esq and Deji Adeyanju, Esq were left unanswered and without response.”
“However, events and happenings on that day left much to be desired as several calls and messages sent to you by Abubakar Marshal, Esq and Deji Adeyanju, Esq were left unanswered and without response.”
The petition noted that Abubakar and Ihuoma will be coming to the FIB on January 9, 2024, with a surety to fulfil the bail conditions imposed.
Entertainment
Ivie Okujaye narrates how government officials criticised her outfit during visitation
Ivie Okujaye, the Nigerian actress, has expressed her frustration, claiming some government officials criticised her choice of outfit during a visit to their office.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Okujaye said the officials questioned her attire, suggesting it was inappropriate for a formal setting.
She said she wore a long dress paired with sneakers, which she believed was modest and appropriate.
The actress said despite her explanation, they insisted that her outfit was unsuitable, adding that she wouldn’t be allowed to dress that way if she were meeting the president.
“I went to a public office today, and the women there were like, “Actress, come here! Why are you dressed like that? Don’t you know you’re coming to a government office?” she said.
“And I was like, ‘Oh, I’m so sorry if this upsets the institution of this place, but I thought I looked decent. I’m wearing a dress that’s almost to my ankles and sneakers.’
“Then one woman said, ‘All this English that you’re speaking, if you were going to see the president, would you dress like this?’ And I said, ‘No.’ She said they would send me out of there. And then she asked, ‘Anyway, anything for us?’
“I was like, wait, how did we navigate the conversation to this point?
“But guys, do you think there’s anything indecent about wearing this to a regular government office, or am I tripping? I wore this on purpose, thinking it was the right thing to wear.”
Entertainment
OAP Do2dtun calls out Soundcity FM for eight months of unpaid salaries
Nigerian on-air media personality Oladotun Ojuolape Kayode, known as OAP Do2dtun, has taken to social media to call out a popular radio station for alleged eight months of unpaid salaries.
OAP Do2dtun took to his official Twitter page today, December 8th, 2024, to call out Souncity over the unpaid salaries. He accused the popular radio station of being very cruel and inhumane.
Speaking further, OAP Do2dtun said that it is not by force to open a radio station as he called on the popular radio station Soundcity to pay their staff the alleged eight months of unpaid salaries.
He wrote; “It’s not by force to open a radio station. Owing your staffs for 8 months is very cruel and inhumane. You don’t need a soothsayer to tell you this.
My friends and colleagues at Soundcity, how do you guys cope? No salary for 8 months ? Mehn that’s crazy!!!!.R”
See screenshot below;
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