On Thursday, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency questioned socialite Obi Iyiegbu, also known as Obi Cubana, for his alleged involvement in the illegal narcotics trade.
According to a Punch report, Obi Cubana was probed for around five hours at the NDLEA’s Abuja headquarters before being given bail and told to return at a later date.
“Obi Cubana arrived at the NDLEA office around 9am and responded to questions for some hours before he was granted bail at 2pm. There are suspicions that he may be a drug kingpin. Some convicted drug dealers paid funds into his account.
“We have been able to establish three of such payments. One of the persons that paid money into his account was convicted in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; another one that was convicted in New Delhi, India; also paid money into his account while a third person that was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and convicted in 2017, also paid money into Cubana’s account,” said a source was quoted.
Three convicted drug dealers from Malaysia, Nigeria, and India were found to have made suspicious payments into Cubana’s account.
The NDLEA and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have now expanded their investigation into Cubana and his business network on the suspicion that he is involved in the narcotics trade.
Last July, Cubana, who has been in the nightclub business since 2006, made international news when he organized a grandiose funeral for his mother, Ezinne Iyiegbu, in Oba, Anambra State’s Idemili South local government area.
Several artists and well-known politicians from throughout the country attended the event, including Abba Kyari, the embattled Nigerian super policeman. Davido, D’banj, Kcee, Poco Lee, and Ubi Franklin were among the other performers at the event. Kanayo O. Kanayo, Alex Ekubo, and Williams Uchemba were among the Nollywood stars and early callers on the guest list.
The ostentatious display of wealth, as evidenced by the donation of about 400 cows to Cubana as wellvs:?.. vx as the ‘naira rain,’ was the highlight of the event.
He was detained for three days by the EFCC in November 2021 as part of investigations into alleged money laundering, tax fraud, and other financial offences before being released on the condition that he return for questioning.
Pascal Okechukwu, also known as Cubana Chief Priest, and Emeka Okonkwo nicknamed E-Money, the Chairman of the Five Star Group, are among the socialite’s acquaintances who have been questioned by the government for their extravagant lifestyle.