Abdulazeez Abdulwahab
PASCAL Okechukwu (popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest) has indicated interest in entering into a plea bargaining agreement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the prosecutor in the case.
At the resumed sitting of the court yesterday (Thursday, 2 May 2024), Okechukwu, through his lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), told the court about a plan of his client to enter a plea bargain with the EFCC.
Ojukwu also sought to withdraw his earlier preliminary objection filed on 24 April 2024, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the charge. “In the interest of justice, we are urging the court to strike out the motion because the prosecution has not responded to it,” he said.
Ojukwu had in the preliminary objections and applications filed before the court posit that the charges were miscellaneous offences, which fall under the purview of the Nigeria Police to prosecute and not the EFCC.
The prosecution counsel did not oppose the withdrawal of the application.
Consequently, Justice Kehinde Ogundare of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos struck out the application, having been withdrawn by the defence, and also adjourned the case till 5 June 2024.
The court also adjourned further hearing in the trial of the defendant till 5 June 2024.
Okejukwu was arraigned on Wednesday, 17 April 2024 by the EFCC on a three-count charge bordering on abuse of the Naira.
One of the counts reads: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, on 13th February 2024, at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of Five Hundred Naira (N500.00) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
Another count reads: “That you, Okechukwu Pascal, sometime in 2020, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, during a social event tampered with funds in the denomination of Five Hundred Naira (N500.00) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act, 2007.”
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