JUDE OKOYE RETURNS TO PRISON AFTER FRESH CHARGES OF FRAUD
Jude Chigozie Okoye, the older brother and former manager of Nigerian music duo P-Square (composed of brothers Paul and Peter Okoye), was remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre on Tuesday after pleading not guilty to fresh fraud charges brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi at a Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, Jude and his company, Northside Music Ltd, face four counts of allegedly stealing $1,019,762.87 and £34,537.59 in music royalties between 2016 and 2023. The EFCC accuses him of diverting funds intended for P-Square’s digital music distribution and publishing royalties.
The prosecution alleges Jude fraudulently converted payments from companies including Lex Records Limited, Kobalt Music Services, and Mtech Limited. Specific amounts cited include:
– $767,544.15 and £34,537.59 from Lex Records.
– $133,566.49 from Kobalt Music Services.
– $118,652.23 from Mtech Limited.
The charges, under Sections 278 and 285 of Lagos State’s 2011 Criminal Law, claim Jude acted to “permanently deprive” Peter Okoye of his rightful earnings.
Jude, already on bail from a separate seven-count charge before Justice A.O. Owoeye at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, pleaded not guilty to the new charges. His counsel, Clement Onwenwnor (SAN), requested bail and sought remand in EFCC custody pending a hearing. However, prosecution counsel Bashir opposed this, urging the court to remand Jude in a correctional facility.
Justice Oshodi adjourned te case to March 6, 2025, for a bail hearing and set trial dates for May 16 and 23, 2025. Jude remains in custody at Ikoyi Correctional Centre until then.
The case adds to ongoing legal troubles for Jude, whose fallout with P-Square led to the duo’s split in 2017, though they later reconciled. The EFCC’s pursuit of the case highlights intensified scrutiny of financial crimes in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
