The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted a N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum to businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, known as Cubana Chief Priest.
One of the sureties must be a civil servant not below grade level 16 while the other two must be gainfully employed, either in the public or private sector with property within the jurisdiction of the court.
The celebrity who was arraigned on Wednesday by Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC pleaded not guilty to tampering and naira abuse.
He 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, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, announced 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.
Justice Ogundare, while handing over the defendant to his lawyer Chikosolo Ojukwu SAN, ordered that the bail conditions must be fulfilled within seven days failure of which the bail would be revoked.
Justice Ogundare adjourned till 2nd of May for trial and for the hearing of pending applications.
