Chinedu Ogah Urges EFCC to Investigate Cubana Chief Priest Over Alleged Money Laundering
House of Representatives member Chinedu Ogah has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate businessman and socialite Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, over allegations concerning the source of his wealth and possible money laundering.
Ogah, who represents the Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency of Ebonyi State, made the call while responding to recent remarks by Cubana Chief Priest criticising Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
The lawmaker questioned the socialite’s background and challenged the basis for his public criticism of the governor.
In a video statement, Ogah asked, “Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What does he do for a living? Who gave him the audacity to speak against the Ebonyi State Governor? Is it about drinking?”
Ogah subsequently questioned how Cubana Chief Priest accumulated his wealth and urged the EFCC to examine his financial dealings.
Cubana Chief Priest had recently called on Governor Nwifuru to leave office, arguing that Ebonyi State had not recorded sufficient development since the governor assumed office in 2023.
The businessman questioned how Nwifuru could have spent nearly three years in office without major projects being commissioned in Ebonyi by President Bola Tinubu or other state governors.
He also compared the pace of development in Ebonyi with developments in other South-East states, expressing dissatisfaction with what he described as the slow progress in the state.
Cubana Chief Priest further criticised the state’s political leadership, alleging that Ebonyi had failed to keep pace with developments elsewhere.
His comments prompted a response from Ogah, who accused the socialite of attempting to undermine Governor Nwifuru and, consequently, the interests of Ebonyi State.
PulseNets learnt that Ogah also connected the controversy to broader political developments in the South-East and the administration of President Tinubu.
The lawmaker alleged that Cubana Chief Priest was involved in efforts to undermine development initiatives being pursued by the Federal Government in the region.
Ogah also made other allegations against the businessman, including a claim that he arranged for hoodlums to remove items from a stadium and transport them to his residence.
The lawmaker questioned how Cubana Chief Priest had established his public profile and accumulated substantial financial influence at a relatively young age.
He also referenced Cubana Chief Priest’s recent political activities in Imo State while questioning the socialite’s growing influence in the political space.
Cubana Chief Priest had earlier sought the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket to contest the House of Representatives election in Imo State ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He subsequently clarified that he voluntarily withdrew from the race before the party’s primary election.
According to him, the decision followed consultations with Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma and discussions concerning the party’s zoning arrangement in the constituency.
Reports had previously suggested that Cubana Chief Priest lost the APC ticket, but he denied taking part in the primary election.
Earlier in 2026, the businessman publicly declared his support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid and presented himself as a supporter of the administration’s political agenda in the South-East.
Ogah, however, maintained that Cubana Chief Priest should account for the source of his wealth and urged the EFCC to investigate the allegations.
The call comes against the background of Cubana Chief Priest’s previous dealings with the anti-graft agency.
In 2024, the EFCC prosecuted him before the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged abuse of the naira.
He was charged with spraying and tampering with Nigerian currency during a social event. Cubana Chief Priest pleaded not guilty and was subsequently granted bail.
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The matter was later resolved through an out-of-court settlement.
However, the previous naira-related case was separate from the money laundering allegations raised by Ogah in his latest statement.
As of the time of this report, there is no indication that the EFCC has commenced a fresh investigation into Cubana Chief Priest based on the allegations contained in the lawmaker’s statement.
