Following a plea bargain, Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday dismissed the naira abuse charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Pascal Okechukwu, a.k.a. Cubana Chief Priest, a celebrity bartender.
Persecondnews recalls that on April 17, 2024, the EFCC slammed a three-count charge against Okechukwu before Justice Ogundare at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The EFFC accused him of illegally spraying and tampering with naira notes at a public event, in violation of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act of 2007.
The judge struck out the case, effectively ending the legal proceedings against Cubana Chief Priest.
As part of a plea bargain agreement with the EFCC, the judge ordered him to pay a sum of N10 million to the Federal Government in exchange for the dismissal of the naira abuse charge, effectively concluding the case through an out-of-court settlement.
This was contained in the terms of the settlement agreement with the EFCC, which was adopted before the trial judge, on Tuesday.
The EFCC’s legal representative, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, informed the judge during the court proceedings that the prosecution and the defendant had reached a mutually agreed-upon settlement, which all parties involved formally signed, thereby resolving the case through an out-of-court agreement.
Mr. Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), the defendant’s counsel, praised the EFCC for their pragmatic approach in resolving the matter through an out-of-court settlement.
He acknowledged that his client is genuinely remorseful and has committed to making amends, promising to adopt a more responsible and law-abiding path moving forward.
Ojukwu further stated that, as a result of the out-of-court settlement, the logical next step would be for the court to formally dismiss the charges against his client, effectively bringing the case to a close.
In a brief ruling, Justice Ogundare accepted the terms of the settlement agreement and accordingly dismissed the charge against Cubana Chief Priest, striking out the case and bringing the legal proceedings to a close.
The terms of the settlement agreement pursuant to Section 14(2) of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004, read: “The agreement applies only to the findings relating to contravention of the law contained in the pending charge preferred against the defendant.
“The defendant entered 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 sensitization 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 sensitization or campaign against abuse of naira and sundry offences.
“The defendant shall pay to the consolidated revenue fund of the Federation such sum not below the sum of ten million naira (N10,000,000.00) only upon the execution of this agreement.”
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