The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and celebrity barman, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, 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.

Cubana Chief Priest appeared before Justice Kehinde Ogundare, facing three counts related to abusing the national currency at a social gathering.

These actions violate the Central Bank Act of 2007.

He allegedly sprayed and tampered with the naira notes during a social event at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.

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.

EFCC had, during arraignment, told the court that the defendant committed the alleged offence on February 13, 2024, by spraying the Naira at the Eko Hotel while dancing during a social event.

The commission also told the court 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.

According to the anti-graft agency, the offence committed is contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007.

The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, has said the government discovered 86 apartments under the Dolphin Estate Bridge, Ikoyi, where tenants pay N250,000 annual rent.

Posting videos on his X account on Wednesday, Wahab said the 86 partitioned rooms, sized “10×10 and 12×10”.

He added that the enforcement team of Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had successfully removed all structures, including a container utilised for various illegal activities, from beneath the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

Sharing videos, the commissioner wrote, “18 individuals squatting illegally under the bridge leading from Dolphin Estate were arrested yesterday 30th of April, 2024 by the officials from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps”

“A total number of 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10, and a container used for different illegal activities were discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

“They have all been removed by the enforcement team of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.”

A Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Kunle Rotimi-Akodu, further confirmed the eviction of illegal settlers from beneath the bridge towards Dolphin Estate in Ikoyi.

Rotimi-Akodu said 23 individuals were arrested during the eviction, which was carried out by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, popularly known as KAI on Tuesday.

He wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).

“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. 23 persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”

He also confirmed that the bridge has hitherto housed 86 rooms, partitioned into 10×10 and 12×10 with squatters paying an average rent of N250,000 per annum.

“Continuation of the removal of abode under Dolphin bridge. 11 more persons were arrested. It is important to note that wood materials were used to construct the shelters, some occupants used gas cylinders, and some had stored fuel for their generators, these are recipes for disaster,” he added.

He wrote, “Squatters dwelling under the bridge leading from inward Dolphin Estate, Ikoyi were evicted today Tuesday, 30th of April, 2024 by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps LAGESC (aka KAI).’’

“These people created their illegal settlement under the bridge, thereby exposing the critical infrastructure to impending destruction. Twenty-three persons have so far been arrested and MoE/KAI will continue to monitor the place. The law will take its course.”

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Minister of Works, Dave Umahi has said the Group Chief Executive Officer and founder of The Landmark Group, Paul Onwuanibe, cannot claim compensation from the Federal Government in connection with the demolition of structures for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Federal Government is currently demolishing properties along the shoreline to create a pathway for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Landmark Group, owners of the Landmark beach in Lagos State, is believed to be one of the organisations that will be highly affected by the demolition.

However, Umahi has insisted that infrastructures belonging to Landmark were spared, hence the owner can’t make claims on the Federal Government.

Addressing journalists, the minister said the beach was on the right of way and shoreline.

He said: “No claim for Landmark, we spared all his infrastructure, we don’t pay for the demolition of shanties because it is on our right-of-way, 15 meters from the shoreline, so he has no claim.

“We made all efforts to spare his infrastructure. The Landmark owner is acting like a politician, me I’m an engineer.

“While he does all the politics, I am an engineer, I’ll do the engineering work. I don’t know the attention he is seeking.”