Kemisola Oye
JUSTICE Kehinde Ogundare of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has admitted the terms of settlement filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a criminal lawsuit filed against a celebrity bartender and businessman, Pascal Okechukwu (popularly known as Cubana Chier Priest) over allegation of naira abuse.
The anti-graft agency had in a criminal charge marked No: FHC/L/264C/2024 alleged Okechukwu of Naira abuse.
Terms of settlement obtained by a correspondent of Eighteen-Eleven Media dated 24 June 2024, stated that the Special Task Force against Naira abuse and Dollarization of the Economy, in the course of a covert operation on the devaluation of the Naira currency, recovered in February 2024 several videos of Mr Okechukwu Pascal.
The terms read in part that, “In the said videos, he was seen tampering with Naira notes, spraying and dancing on them. That the Commission thereafter invited the defendant to come forth and explain why he was contravening extant provisions of the statute and tampering with the Naira currency.
“The defendant reported to the Commission on 28 February 2024, and he volunteered his extra-judicial statement under words of caution in the presence of his lawyer. This agreement applies only to the findings relating to the contravention of the law contained in the pending charge preferred against the defendant.”
The terms which was signed by the parties in the suit further read that “the defendant shall enter into a bond with the EFCC to be of good behaviour and never indulge in any economic and financial crime 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 Federation such sum not below the sum of Ten million naira (N10,000,000:00) only upon the execution of this agreement.”
It would be recalled that, On 17 April 2024, the EFCC arraigned Okechukwu on a three-count charge bordering on an allegation of spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos.
The EFCC alleged that Okechukwu tampered with N500 notes while dancing at a social event, an act which contravened Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act of 2007.
Okechukwu pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted a bail of N10 million.
During proceeding on 2nd May 2024, the defendant counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) had confirmed to the court the submission of the EFCC counsel, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari that the parties have applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
Chikaosolu said that there will be a need to apply for a withdrawal of the defence’s preliminary objection to allow for reconciliation.
The case was adjourned to 5 June 2024, for a report of settlement but Ojukwu was unable to attend court, he had requested for an adjournment.
Justice Ogundare thereafter rescheduled the case to 25 June 2024.
Meanwhile, the EFCC has justified the perceived lenient judgment handed down to Okechukwu. A statement released by the Commission said that it
acted in line with Section 14(2) of its Establishment Act, 2004.
It maintains that “this section of the EFCC’s Establishment Act empowers the Commission to compound any offence, subject to provisions of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by “accepting such sum of money as it deems fit exceeding the maximum amount by which the offender would have been liable if he had been convicted”.
See the full statement below.
Naira Abuse: Import Of Court Judgment On Cubana Chief Priest
Consequent on the judgment of Justice Kehinde Ogundare of a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on the terms of settlement of the three-count charges bordering on abuse of Naira notes preferred against Okechukwu Pascal (alias Cubana Chief Priest) by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), it is needful to emphasize that the Commission acted in line with Section 14(2) of its Establishment Act, 2004.
This Section of the EFCC’s Establishment Act empowers the Commission to compound any offence, subject to provisions of Section 174 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by “accepting such sum of money as it deems fit exceeding the maximum amount by which the offender would have been liable if he had been convicted”.
To this end, the Ten Million Naira,(N10,000,000) the court fined Cubana Chief Priest far exceeded the Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) his offence carries. This is in response to the application made to the EFCC by counsel to the defendant, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), seeking the compounding of the offences under Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.
Additionally, Cubana Chief Priest would henceforth lead rigorous and intensive sensitisation or campaign against abuse of coins and notes issued under the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Act.
The court also ruled that “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”. All of these are strict deterrence meant to separate Cubana Chief Priest from future desecration of the Naira.
The Special Task Force against Naira Abuse and Dollarisation of the economy is still in place. The Commission remains undeterred in the pursuit of its lawful mandate and the court’s ruling on Cubana Chief Priest should stimulate enhanced commitment of Nigerians to defend the sanctity of the Naira and refrain from any infraction against the nation’s legal tender.
Eighteen-Eleven Media