Naira abuse: EFCC trying to pacify Southwest with Cubana Chief Priest’s trial – Lawyer Idam

A human rights activist and lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, on Wednesday, accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of playing the tribal and ethnic card over the trial of nightlife entrepreneur Okechukwu Paschal, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, for naira abuse.

Idam, who described Cubana Chief Priest’s trial as mere ceremonial, said EFCC was trying to pacify the Southwest for convicting Idris Okuneye, aka Bobrisky, for naira abuse.

EFCC had arrested Cubana Chief Priest and arraigned him before a Lagos Federal High Court on a three-count charge bordering on naira abuse.

However, Idam lamented that EFCC should be investigating the budget padding allegation raised by suspended Bauchi Central Senator, Abdul Ningi and not be preoccupied with prosecuting Cubana Chief Priest.

In a statement, the Abuja-based rights lawyer described the trial of Cubana Chief Priest as a waste of time.

He said: “Funny to see that EFCC has adopted the Nigerian quota system in its prosecution of suspects. I see the prosecution of Chief Priest as a mere ceremonial exercise intended to pacify the West in order to balance the tribal or ethnic equation, possibly to douse tension coming from the needless prosecution of Bobrisky.

“Otherwise, the commission should be very busy investigating Senator Ningi’s allegation of diversion of the sum of over 3 trillion Naira by Akpabio and his goons at the National Assembly rather than chasing rabbits.

“It is either that the EFCC has become so idle or that it is looking for traffic on its page.

“The prosecution of Chief Priest for Naira abuse is pure time-wasting. The Commission should get busy with serious issues.”