Family and friends of the late Chief of Army Staff (CoAS), Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, will mark the first anniversary of his demise, as well as others who he died with in a plane crash.
Dr Titus Orngu, Programme Coordinator, Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru Foundation, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.
Orngu said that the late Attahiru and other soldiers who died in the crash on May 21, 2021, while on an official trip to Kaduna, would not be forgotten for their sacrifices for the country.
He said the purpose of the ceremony was to celebrate the sacrifices the Nigerian military often made to keep Nigerians and Nigeria safe.
The coordinator said that the foundation would use the event to launch a documentary, a book and an endowment fund; and the proceeds would be used to carry out socio-economic, educational and leadership programmes in remembrance of the departed heroes.
According to Orngu, such programmes will leave a lasting memory of the late general’s generosity and selfless service to humanity.
He said all the causes the late COAS fought for and left unfinished, would not be forgotten or thrown away as his family and friends would ensure such legacies and memories were preserved.
Popular Instagram celebrity Pascal Okechukwu also known as Cubana Chief Priest has pleaded not guilty for alleged naira abuse.
He pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The socialite was arraigned at the Federal High Court, Lagos before Justice Kehinde Ogundare on Wednesday.
The anti-graft commission filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest accused of abusing the naira at a social event, an act said to be contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
After he pleaded not guilty, the court granted him bail in the sum of ₦10m with two responsible sureties in like sum who must be gainfully employed with the federal or state government and not less than grade level 16.
The sureties are to have landed property and the document must be verified by the court.
Cubana Chief Priest is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him later. Failure to do so, he will be remanded in correctional facility.
A copy of the charge showed it was filed on April 4th by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.
In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing 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 for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, 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 for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
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”.
Meanwhile, the defendant also informed the court of his pending application to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to hear the charge.
Justice Ogundare has adjourned till May 2nd to hear the application.
This is coming days after the EFCC arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye better known as Bobrisky on similar charges for which he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have left the Abuja residence of Yahaya Bello, former governor of Kogi state.
The EFCC operatives had earlier restricted movement in and around Bello’s house situated on Benghazi street, Wuse Zone 4.
After a few hours, Usman Ododo, governor of Kogi, arrived at Bello’s residence and was later seen leaving with his predecessor.
An EFCC official could be overheard speaking with someone suspected to be his superior on the phone, saying Bello was inside Ododo’s car that departed.
Shortly after Ododo departed from Bello’s residence, the EFCC personnel left the house.
The development comes about a month after the EFCC named Bello in an amended money laundering charge filed against Alli Bello, chief of staff to the incumbent governor of Kogi.
Ali, and one Daudu Suleiman, are the two defendants in the 17-count amended charge.
The EFCC alleged that the suspects diverted about N100 billion belonging to the Kogi government.
The abuse of the naira — the Nigerian currency — is deemed a criminal offense, punishable under the law. Section 21(3) of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act 2007 (as amended) stipulates that “spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the naira or such note and shall be punishable under the law by fines or imprisonment or both”.
Despite countless warnings by the apex bank, spraying of naira notes at social gatherings had continued without sanctions for many years. It has been seen as a tradition in many parts of Nigeria.
But last year, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which is a key collaborator with the CBN on the “unpatriotic practice”, wielded the big stick on Simi Gold, the actress, in what happened to be a landmark case of naira abuse.
Gold was arrested in February 2023 after a video of her spraying and stepping on the naira notes at a party surfaced online. She was sentenced to six months in prison in February 2024. The court, however, handed down the sentence with an option of a N300,000 fine.
A few weeks after Gold’s court case, Bobrisky, the crossdresser, was arrested in Lagos for defacing the naira notes. Last Friday, Bobrisky was sentenced to six months in prison. The sentence was without the option of bail.
While tongues were wagging on social media over the nature of Bobrisky’s sentence, the anti-graft filed a three-count charge against Cubana Chief Priest, the nightlife promoter, for alleged abuse of the Nigerian currency.
Cubana, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday. Kehinde Ogundare, a judge of the federal high court in Lagos, thereafter granted him bail in the sum of N10 million with two responsible sureties in like sum. The case was also adjourned.
Last Sunday, the commission warned that many more celebrities will be prosecuted, adding that it is investigating those who may have been involved in currency abuse.
Watch the videos below.
Wizkid
In December 2023, revealed that he would distribute the sum of N100 million to the kids for Christmas.
While doing so, the singer was seen spraying wads of cash on the streets of Lagos while inside his lush automobile.
The ‘Ojuelegba’ hitmaker was also seen throwing money during his mother’s burial that took place in October last year.
Portable
The ‘Zazoo Zeh’ singer is known for his philanthropy, especially on the streets of Sango-Ota, his hometown in Ogun. He has been spotted throwing money into the air on several occasions during his visit home.
Kanayo O Kanayo
In 2021, the ace Nollywood actor was spotted at a party during the Christmas festivities in Imo state. To celebrate the festivities, he sprayed money into the air as people danced around him.
Asake
The ‘Joha’ singer was also seen throwing money into the air at a party hosted by Yhemolee a few months ago.
Asake took the wads of minted N500 notes, removed the currency straps, and flung the notes into the air from the roof of the building where he stood.
Eniola Badmus
Badmus was sighted at a party alongside Bobrisky tossing money at Mega 99, the gospel juju musician, while he was performing at an event some years ago.