November 2, 2021

The quizzing of foremost socialite and philanthropist, Mr. Obinna Iyiegbu, popularly called Obi Cubana by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has triggered a welter of criticisms of the EFCC by some angry Nigerians.

They gave knocks to the EFCC for chasing shadow while the real substance of corruption walked the land free and un-hounded. EFCC should leave Cubana alone and chase after public fund looters who are all over the place.

Obi Cubana was at the EFCC on Monday afternoon to answer to allegations of tax evasion and money laundering.

However, his arrest by the EFCC did not sit well with some Nigerians who accused the EFCC of double standard. Obi Cubana has a large followership on social media most of whom are youths.

Since his reported arrest, the social media has been buzzing. While some maintained that nobody is above the law, others knocked the EFCC for finding the time and energy to arrest and question a “legend and worthy ambassador of Nigeria.”

A middle -aged man who identified himself as Ifeanyi, said he had known Obi Cubana from his early days as a struggling entrepreneur from Area 8 in Abuja where Cubana ran a garden restaurant before he moved to Area 11 to run Ibiza, at that time one of the most successful night clubs in Abuja.

“Cubana is not a money launderer. We know what he has been doing from Area 8 Abuja. He is an entertainment person who persevered in his beat and made a success of it. Those who doubt the source of his money should visit any of his new generation night clubs. Some of his critics cannot even afford a bottle of Champagne in these clubs and hotels. He is an inspiration to Nigerian youths that we all don’t have to depend on government work or steal public money to make it. Those persecuting him should look elsewhere. There’s so much stealing in the public sector. That should engage them rather than one Obi Cubana who is living his private life in his own way,” he said.

Another commentator on the EFCC tango with Cubana, Fred Nwadimbu, said EFCC should leave “Cubana alone because he made his money in a clean way and nobody should tell him how to spend his money.”

He added: “The tax matter and money laundering allegation appear like an after-thought. All this while before his lavish burial of his mother, no one remembered him but suddenly after he started trending as a philanthropist who has helped his people we started hearing about tax and money laundering, that’s nonsense,” he charged.

Obi Cubana grabbed the headlines when he buried his late mother in hitherto unknown town of Oba in Anambra state early this year.