Popular celebrity bartender and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu, known as Cubana Chief Priest, is considering an out-of-court settlement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding the Naira abuse charge filed against him at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
His lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Chikaosolu Ojukwu, informed the trial judge, Justice Kehinde Ogundare, about this development during the proceedings on Thursday.
The defence counsel also told the court that parties have applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
Chikaosolu stated that if the EFCC confirms the position as accurate, then the defence would need to apply for withdrawing their preliminary objection to facilitate reconciliation.
The EFCC 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 and with no objections from the prosecution and the court granted same.
Justice Ogundare subsequently adjourned the case until June 5, for a report of settlement.
The EFCC had arraigned Cubana Chief Priest on April 17th, before the court on a three counts charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event at the Eko hotel in Lagos.
