The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned the hearing of the case involving celebrity bartender, Pascal Okechukwu (aka Cubana Chief Priest), to June 25. The adjournment allows for continued exploration of a potential settlement between the parties.
Okechukwu faces allegations of mishandling the Nigerian naira during a social event at the Eko Hotel in Lagos, contravening the Central Bank Act of 2007. He was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on April 17 and charged with three counts of spraying and mishandling naira notes. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail for N10 million.
The case was initially adjourned to May 2, where the defence counsel indicated that both parties were seeking a settlement under Section 14(2) of the EFCC Act. The defence counsel subsequently withdrew a preliminary objection, which was unopposed by the prosecution and granted by the court.
The hearing was expected to resume on June 5 with a report on the settlement efforts, but the defence team’s request for adjournment led to the new hearing date of June 25. The stakeholders await a resolution in the case.
