The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State has granted businessman and socialite, Pascal Okechukwu, better known as Cubana Chief Priest, N10 million bail with two sureties in like sum.

The celebrity bar man had earlier pleaded not guilty to tampering and abusing the naira during his trial.

Cubana Chief Priest 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.

His counsel also informed the court that the defendant is an employer of labour with over 1000 employees on his payroll, who are dependent on their jobs.

He, consequently, urged the court to grant his application as moved.

In response, the prosecutor said she will leave the issue of bail to the discretion of the court.

Price of a 50-kilogram bag of rice (locally parboiled) has decreased by 19 per cent to N68,000 from N84,000 in February.

This is despite rising food inflation.

DAILY POST surveys at Dutse and Kubwa (village) markets in Abuja showed that the prices of a 50kg bag of rice, such as Big Bull and Optimum, had a marginal drop in April compared to the previous month.


However, foreign rice such as Mama Gold and Royal Stallion are sold at N90,000 per 50kg bag.

A trader in the Dutse market, Amaka Ubani, said that the price of rice dropped marginally to N68,000, from between N72,000 to N84,000 per 50kg of local rice.

“Well, at the moment, there is nowhere rice is sold at N60,000 per 50kg bag, but N68,000 from around N72,000 to 84,000 it was sold in March. Although customers are still complaining that it is still on the high side.

“Foreign rice like Royal Stallion and Mama Gold are not available in the market because they are expensive and mostly rebagged”, she added.

Similarly, Betty Retail shop in Kubwa market confirmed that it sells Big Bull rice at N68,000 per bag.

Other shops visited by the DAILY POST put their prices between N68,000 and N72,000 for a giant Big Bull and other varieties.

The development comes despite the soaring price of food which rose to 40.01 per cent in March.

Consequently, Nigerians continued to worry about why Naira’s continued gain in the foreign exchange market did not impact the prices of goods and services.

However, Dr Ayo Teriba, the Chief Executive of Economic Associates, explained that the impact of Naira appreciation may be felt in three to six months.

Lupe Fiasco’s name has been in the headlines for the comments he made about Kendrick Lamar not being a top tier lyricist and while most assume that comes out of bitterness, those that follow Lupe a bit more closely will know that that’s just him expressing his opinion and he gives credit where he believes it’s due too.

He dropped a song called ‘LLC‘ a week ago and has performed at Coachella, where he once again said that he’s down to battle anyone. since but tonight, he puts out another song called ‘Indio’. You can hear it below.

In case you missed it, Lupe announced during the weekend’s Coachella set that his new album Samurai will be out in the summer. It’s one fans have been waiting for for a long time.

The Secretary to the Osun State Government, who doubles as the Chairman of the Osun State Asset Recovery Committee, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye said the committee would adhere strictly to the rule of law while carrying out its mandate.

Igbalaye disclosed while addressing newsmen at a press conference held at the Exco’s Lounge of the Governors office on Tuesday.

The SSG said due diligence will remain a priority if the committee.

He further stressed that the press conference was called to have a clear picture of the situation, stating that Osun people should not see development as a means to which hunt the past administration.

“It was imperative for the committee to go through due process after the inauguration. Government properties like vehicles, buildings which were illegally possessed must be returned to the Osun state Government immediately”

The Osun State SSG while speaking reiterated critical observations by the Task force in a meeting held on Teusday, 5th March, 2024.

“At its meeting held on Tuesday, 5th March, 2024, the Task Force observed as follows:

i. That due diligence should be done with a view to ascertaining vehicles / assets that were lawfully permissible to be taken home from those illegally taken away;

ii. That the Executive Governor had the prerogative power to allow any political appointee go home with his/her official vehicle, having served for at least a period of two (2) years and payment of some amount of money into the coffers of the government, and if the vehicle was less than four (4) years old, the appointee would pay 10% of the residual value of such official vehicle;

iii. That the approval granted by the immediate past Executive Governor for the release and eventual ownership of the official vehicles (kia cars) allocated to members of the immediate past Osun State Executive Council followed due process; and

iv. That the letter of permission written by the immediate past Head of Service, directing political appointees of the immediate past administration to go home with the official vehicles allocated to them was, however, illegal.”

“Consequently, all government assets/ vehicles that are hitherto in the possession of the political appointees of the immediate past administration, which are not captured in the express provisions of the paragraphs ii and iii above, are deemed to have been illegally carted away, and such must be returned to the Osun State Government immediately.”

Responding to questions of ease and means of of recovery, the SSG maintained that the task force consists of legal and security representatives who are mandated to make sure that operations are carried out in respect to the rule of law.

“We have legal and security representatives. They are on this committe to make sure that the rule of law takes preeminence”, he concluded.

The SSG assured everyone that as another meeting is due in a few days, the public will be kept abreast of developments as events continues to unfold.

The management of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State has suspended 19 students for allegedly engaging in examination malpractices.

The polytechnic also issued warning letters to two other students to desist from such act.

The head of the institution’s Public Relations unit, Yemi Ajibola confirmed this to our correspondent in Abeokuta on Monday.

Ajibola said the students were suspended following the report by the Examination Misconduct Panel on the first semester examination for the 2022/2023 academic session.

Ajibola said, four out of the suspended students will be on suspension for two semesters, while the remaining 15 were placed on suspension for four semesters.


Ajibola said the report showed drastic reduction in the number of students involvement in examination malpractices when compared with the previous reports on the exams misconduct.

The reduction according to him, showed that the efforts of the management of the institution on sensitisation against examination malpractices.

He added that the school’s efforts at moulding students for acceptance in the labour market were also yielding positive results.

“It shows that in the nearest future, there will be no student of MAPOLY involved in such examination malpractices”, he said.