By Abiola Olawale
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, have jointly resolved to settle the alleged Naira abuse charge outside the walls of the court of law.
Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), the legal counsel of Cubana Chief Priest made this known at the resumption of proceedings before a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday.
Ojukwu informed the presiding judge, Justice Kehinde Ogundare that the parties were exploring settlement and had applied that the matter be settled according to the provisions of Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
The lawyer said that if the prosecution confirms the position as valid, he will be willing to apply for a withdrawal of the defendant’s preliminary objection and allow for a reconciliation.
In her response, the legal counsel of the EFCC, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari confirmed an ongoing discussion between both parties but said that no decision had been made.
The defense counsel then applied to withdraw the preliminary objection, challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
Based on the development, Justice Ogundare adjourned the case to June 5 for a report of the settlement.
It would be recalled that Cubana Chief Priest was arraigned before Justice Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of Naira, spraying, and tampering with the local currency at a social event contrary to the provisions of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act of 2007.
However, the court on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, granted Cubana Chief Priest N10m bail with two sureties in like sum having pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the anti-graft Commission.
