Celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have reached an agreement to resolve the naira abuse charge outside of court.
The out-of-court settlement was disclosed when the proceedings resumed on Thursday.
The commission had alleged that Cubana Chief Priest while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 notes issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying the same for two hours.
Okechukwu appeared before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, facing three counts related to abusing the national currency at a social gathering at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on February 13, 2024.
These actions violate the Central Bank Act of 2007.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him and was granted bail in the sum of N10m.
Justice Ogundare gave Okechukwu seven days to perfect the bail conditions, saying if he failed to perfect the bail conditions within seven days, he would be remanded at the Nigeria Correctional Service.
The judge then adjourned the case until May 2, 2024, for a hearing of the preliminary objection and trial.
When the matter was called on Thursday, Cubana Chief Priest’s counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) informed the court that the parties are exploring settlement and have applied that the matter be settled under the provisions of Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari, confirmed that the parties were discussing a settlement and that the application was still being considered.
