Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, ordered celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu (a.k.a Cubana Chief Priest) to forfeit N10 million to the Federal Government as part of an out-of-court settlement in a naira abuse charge against him.
The judge also struck out the charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). This was contained in the terms of a settlement agreement with the EFCC, which was adopted before the trial judge.
Earlier at the proceedings, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Bilkisu Buhari-Bala, informed the court that parties in the charge entered into the out-of-court settlement and same was duly signed by them.
Responding, the defendant’s counsel , Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), commended the reasonable action of the anti-graft agency in having the matter resolved.
He said the defendant was equally remorseful and promised to turn a new leaf. Ojukwu stressed that the consequence of the settlement was the dismissal of the charge.
In his short ruling, Justice Ogundare 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, reads: “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 crimes 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 the federation such sum not below N10 million only upon the execution of this agreement.”
