Last Updated on June 25, 2024 by Fellow Press

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday struck out a charge against celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest, over alleged abuse of the naira.

Justice Kehinde Ogundare struck out the charge following the adoption of terms of settlement between parties to the suit.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on April 17, arraigned Okechukwu on a three-count charge of allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira notes during a social event at Eko Hotel in Lagos.

He had pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N10 million.

At the last adjourned date on May 2, the Defence Counsel, Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), informed the court.

Ojukwu noted that the parties were exploring settlement and had applied that the matter be settled pursuant to the provisions of section 14(2) of the EFCC Act.

Following the position, he applied for a withdrawal of a preliminary objection filed by defence, and since there was no objection from the prosecution, the court granted same.

The court, consequently, adjourned the case until June 5, for report of settlement.

On June 5, the case could not go on following the absence of the defence counsel who had reportedly written to the court praying for an adjournment.

The court had adjourned the case until June 25, for report of settlement.

When the case was called on Tuesday, Mrs Bilikisu Buhari appeared for the prosecution, while Mr Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), appeared for the defence.

Bilikisu informed the court that the prosecution had filed the terms of settlement dated June 24 and adopted same.

In response, the defence counsel said he agreed with what the prosecutor said and equally adopted same.

He thanked the court for its indulgence adding that part of the obligations contained in the said terms had been performed.

He urged the court to make the consequential orders of dismissing the case.

In a short ruling, the court held that: “Upon the agreement of the prosecution and defence pursuant to the EFCC Establishment Act, the agreement having been presented to the court, this charge is hereby struck out as the defendant is hereby cautioned,” he said.

Meanwhile, a copy of the terms of settlement which was obtained by newsmen in court provided as follows:
“The agreement applies only to the findings relating to contravention of the law contained in the pending charge preferred against the defendant.

“The defendant shall enter into a bond with the EFCC to be of good behaviour and never indulge in any Economic and Financial Crime 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 Central Bank of Nigeria (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 N10 million only upon the execution af this agreement,” he said.

In the charge, the defendant was said to have tampered with the funds in the denomination of N500, while dancing at the social event in Eko Hotel.

The offence contravenes the provisions of section 21(1) of the CBN Act of 2007.

Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Fellow Press

Award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has dragged Sophia Momodu, the mother of his first child, Imade, to court, seeking custody of the daughter.

In an originating motion filed by his lawyers, Dr Olaniyi Arije, Okey Barrah and others, at the Lagos State High Court, dated April 17, 2024, Davido is praying the court for “an order granting joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke to the applicant.”

In the alternative, the singer prayed to the court for “an order granting to the applicant unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade.”

The suit, marked LD/1587PMC/2024, has as applicant Mr David Adedeji Adeleke, while Ms Sophia Momodu was listed as the sole respondent.

The originating motion was supported by a 44-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Davido himself.

He narrated that though he had a relationship with Momodu that led to the birth of their child on May 14, 2015, the relationship had ended some years ago “while we resolved to take care of our child as biological father and mother.”

Davido said, “That it is on record that I have been responsible for the payment of all the school fees of my daughter to provide her with the best education possible and to meet all her educational needs without a hitch.

“That I have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with our daughter.”

The singer said that as a result of the love he had for Imade, he purchased and offered the mother a N200m worth apartment in a condominium gated community with a swimming pool and 24-hour power and water supply at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. An offer he claimed was turned down.

He said, “The respondent rejected the offer to stay and live at the above-described secured Oniru apartment, which had been purchased already, but demanded that I continue to pay N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility as my own contribution towards my daughter’s accommodation.”

Davido said to ensure that the interest of Imade was well-catered for, “I bought a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle for the use of the child and the respondent to meet the transport needs, including transportation of the child to and from school, etc.”

He added that sometime last year, he received a call from her daughter’s school that Imade had been absent for two weeks, and upon his inquiry from Momodu, “She began to make excuses and complained that the Range Rover SUV was not in a good condition, however, she refused to inform me about that.”

He added, “That sequel to the information about the said condition of the vehicle, I provided another vehicle, Highlander SUV, and in addition, the sum of N5.8m as requested by her for the repair of the Range Rover SUV, making it two vehicles in the custody and use of the respondent and our daughter.”

According to Davido, to further ensure that the interest of their child was adequately taken care of, “I also made commitments to pay for living expenses, the fees of the nanny to our child, provide medical and health care, insurance, periodic international travel expenses and tickets.”

“That notwithstanding my efforts in the overall interest of my daughter, the respondent has continued to make outlandish and Utopian demands to frustrate me,” the singer added.

Listing the other demands allegedly made by Momodu, he said, “The respondent, among others, is demanding that I should pay the nanny she hired the sum of $800 per month, and that the total sum of $19,600 per annum be paid as a lump sum.”

Davido claimed that despite his contribution towards ensuring a better life for their daughter, “the respondent has continued to show me unwarranted cruelty, inflicting so much pain on me.”

Davido and Sophia have often been at loggerheads.

In 2021, Sophia revealed that she was pained when their daughter, Imade, took Davido’s last name and not hers.

Momodu revealed this via her Instagram Story when she reacted to a post about children bearing their mothers’ names.

According to her, she cried bitterly because her daughter could not bear her last name ‘Momodu’.

She wrote, “I remember my mom and aunties laughing at me when I was crying because my daughter’s last name wasn’t going to be Momodu.

“I was genuinely distraught. I was even arguing and everything, that they put her father’s full name and not a single letter from mine.”

She further revealed that her mother made her understand that Imade should bear her father’s name so that she could gain from her father’s lineage and inheritance.

She added, “It made me shut up real quick, but I lowkey had so many questions.”