Cubana Chief Priest
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Tuesday, June 25, struck out the suit against celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu, Cubana Chief Priest, over alleged abuse of the Naira.
Justice Kehinde Ogundare struck out the charge following the adoption of terms of settlement between parties to the suit.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Okechukwu on April 17, on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira notes during a social event at the Eko hotel in Lagos.
He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million.
At the last adjourned date on May 2, defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court that parties were exploring settlement and applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
Following the position, the defence counsel then applied for a withdrawal of a preliminary objection filed by defence, and since there was no objection from the prosecution, the court granted the same.
The court consequently adjourned the case until June 5, for a report of settlement.
On June 5, the case could not go on following the absence of the defence counsel who had reportedly written to the court praying for an adjournment.
The court then adjourned the case until today, June 25, for the report of the settlement.
At the resumption of proceedings on Tuesday, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari appeared for the prosecution while Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) appeared for the defence.
Bilikisu then informed the court that the prosecution had filed the terms of settlement dated June 24 and adopted the same.
In response, the defence counsel said he agreed with what the prosecutor said and equally adopted the same.
He thanked the court for its indulgence, adding that part of the obligations contained in the said terms had been performed.
He then urged the court to make the consequential orders of dismissing the case.
Justice Ogundare in his short ruling adopted the terms of settlement and consequently struck out the charge.
The terms of settlement agreement pursuant to Section 14 (2) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, read:
“The agreement applies only to the findings relating to contraventions of the law contained tn the pending charge preferred against the defendant.
“The defendant thall enter into a bond with the EFCC to be of good behaviour and never indulge in any Economic and Financial Crime or related offences.
“The Defendant shall engage in rigorous and intensive sensitisation and/or campaign against the abuse of coins and notes issued under the CBN Act as legal tender.
“The defendant shall bi-monthly post on his various social media handles a minimum of two video clips of his sensitisation/campaign against abuse of naira and sundry offences.
“The Defendant shall pay to the consolidated revenue fund of Federation such sum not below the sum of Ten million naira (N10,000,000:00) only upon the execution af this agreement.”
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