One may wonder why Okuneye Idris Olarenwaju, also known as Bobrisky, is chilling in Kirikiri for the offense of defacing and Abuse of the Naira, while Pascal Okechukwu (Cubana Chief Priest) is at home, a free man attending court sessions from his home even after he was alleged to have committed the same offense. This article is an analysis of the material differences between the case of Cubana Chief Priest and that of Bobrisky.
The EFCC, Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency, took Cubana Chief Priest to court over allegations of Naira abuse, stating that he engaged in spraying and tampering with Naira at various social events he attended. According to Dele Oyewale, a spokesperson for the EFCC, Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned in Lagos on Wednesday. The EFCC contends that Cubana Chief Priest’s actions contravene the Central Bank Act of 2007, which prohibits the spraying and abuse of the Naira.
The charges against Cubana Chief Priest include tampering with N500 notes issued by the Central Bank while dancing at a social event at Eko Hotel on February 13, 2024, and similar offenses allegedly committed at events in Lagos in 2020 and January 2024. These developments come shortly after the EFCC sentenced another prominent Nigerian celebrity, Bobrisky, to six months in prison for similar accusations. In 2022, Cubana Chief Priest was arrested by the EFCC on charges related to alleged money laundering and tax fraud at the Lagos airport.
Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging abuse of the Naira. Appearing at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, Cubana Chief Priest maintained his innocence before the court. The court subsequently granted him bail, set at N10 million, along with two sureties.
We would also recall that on the 12th of April 2024, the EFCC secured the conviction of Bobrisky for the abuse of Naira, where he was sentenced to six months in prison without the option of a fine. Both committed the same offense. What are the differences between the two cases?
Difference Between The Two Cases
One material difference between the two cases is that Bobrisky pleaded guilty to the charge by EFCC, meaning he accepts that he committed the offense. Upon his open confession in the court, he was convicted, bagging six months in prison without the option of a fine. Conversely, Chief Priest, on the other hand, entered a not guilty plea, which means he doesn’t accept the charge leveled against him by the EFCC and is ready to defend himself.
Furthermore, when Bobrisky entered a guilty plea, the burden of proving the case against him was deemed extinguished because facts that are admitted need not be proved. This lightened the workload of the EFCC to prove their case against him. Whereas in the case of Cubana Chief Priest, the not guilty plea has shifted the burden to the EFCC to prove their case against him. The burden lies on them to prove Naira abuse against the accused, and no other. It is also instructive to note that the law requires the standard of proof to be beyond a reasonable doubt. The EFCC has to prove their case to convince the court to the extent that it would draw an irresistible conclusion that what occurred in Eko Hotel on that day constituted Naira abuse.
Finally, the EFCC has to prove that what was sprayed on that day was actual banknotes and nothing else. Even when they establish that they were Naira notes, they also have to prove that there was abuse. As of today, the only evidence available are video clips, which they have to prove were indeed Naira notes. Some have argued that what was sprayed were mere props carrying the faces of the couples in the event and not Naira notes. It’s going to be tough on the EFCC because they have to prove to the court that there were actual Naira notes, considering the fact that Chief Priest wasn’t arrested during the event, and they are relying only on online videos.
Some have also argued that unlike Bobrisky, Cubana Chief Priest is only wasting the time of the court, as they believe he is guilty as charged. Whatever the outcome may be, it would depend on the verdict and ruling of the court in the coming days. We would continue to bring you updates on this case as it develops.
One thought on “Why Bobrisky’s Cases is Different From Cubana Chief Priest”