Popular celebrity bartender and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu (well known as Cubana Chief Priest) is exploring an out-of-court settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the Naira abuse charge levelled against him by the anti-graft agency at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
His lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu disclosed this to trial judge, Justice Kehinde Ogundare at the proceedings on Thursday.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ojukwu also told the court that parties had applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
He said that, if the EFCC confirms the position as true, there would be a need to apply for a withdrawal of the defence’s preliminary objection to allow for a reconciliation.
EFCC’s prosecutor, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari confirmed the position as stated by the defence counsel and told the court that the commission was still considering the application.
Following this confirmation, the defence counsel then applied for a withdrawal of the preliminary objection. There was no objections by the prosecution.
The court granted the application.
Justice Ogundare subsequently adjourned the case until 5 June, for a report of settlement.
On 17 April, EFCC arraigned Cubana Chief Priest before the court on a three counts of allegedly spraying and tampering with 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 with two responsible sureties in like sum each.
The court said the sureties must be gainfully employed with the Federal Government or State Government and must not be less than grade level 16 officers.
The sureties are also to have landed property within the jurisdiction of the court and the documents of the property must be verified by the prosecution and the court.
He is also to submit his travel passport to the custody of the court.
The bail conditions must be perfected within seven days but in the meantime he was released to his lawyer who must give an undertaken to produce him in court for his trial. Failure to do so, he will be remanded in correctional facility.
Last month, the anti-graft agency arraigned controversial cross-dresser Idris Okuneye (better known as Bobrisky) on similar charges for which he was sentenced to a six-month jail term.
Source: Channels TV
