Lagos, Nigeria — Celebrity bartender Pascal Okechukwu, widely known as Cubana Chief Priest, has thrown his support behind his friend and fellow socialite, Emeka Okonkwo, popularly called E-Money, following his recent arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday night.
E-Money was taken into custody at his home in the Omole area of Lagos for allegedly abusing the Naira and violating the Foreign Exchange Act after reportedly spraying U.S. dollars at a public event. In a passionate post on Instagram Tuesday, Cubana Chief Priest praised E-Money’s contributions to the South-East, specifically highlighting his Easter “Homecoming” concert. He suggested that E-Money’s increasing influence may have made him a target for those wishing to silence powerful voices in the region.
Cubana Chief Priest wrote, “This is a guy who just did everything to push up Southeast with his just concluded Home Coming Concert this Easter. I knew they will come for him because they just saw his strength. They are doing this so they could break him to make him succumb under duress.”
He further commented on the systemic oppression faced by the Igbo people, stating, “The oppression on us Igbos will never stop. But let me tell all of you, we will never stop. We don’t die, we multiply. More billionaires are coming up, and come 2027, we will support and vote for who we want. We won’t be broken; we will even be stronger.”
Cubana Chief Priest himself faced similar charges on April 17, 2024, also for Naira abuse after he was accused of spraying money at an event in Lagos. He pleaded not guilty, was granted bail, and the charges were later dropped after a settlement was reached.
Reports reveal that E-Money was arrested without resistance by a substantial team of EFCC operatives. Sources within the commission indicated that the investigation was centered on allegations of defacing foreign currencies and violating foreign exchange regulations. “On Monday night, we arrested E-Money for Naira abuse and defacing foreign currencies, specifically for spraying U.S. dollars, which is against the Foreign Exchange Act,” one source mentioned.
The crackdown has led many supporters and fellow entertainers to rally behind E-Money, urging that their voices will not be silenced by oppressive measures. “This is not just about E-Money; it’s about every Igbo striving to succeed against all odds,” Cubana Chief Priest concluded in his post.
As the situation develops, many are watching closely to see what measures the EFCC will take next and how the public will continue to respond to these high-profile arrests in Nigeria’s nightlife and entertainment scene.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
