Jude Okoye arraigned on fresh charges by EFCC

Jude Okoye, P Square’s older brother and ex-manager, has been arraigned by the Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

This new arraignment happened on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

On February 26, 2025, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned the former manager and elder brother of the defunct music duo P-Square, on charges of money laundering totaling ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.

His company, Northside Music Ltd, was also implicated in the seven-count charge presented before Justice Alexander Owoeye at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

One of the charges alleges that in 2022, Okoye and Northside Music Ltd acquired a property at No. 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, valued at ₦850 million, knowing or reasonably suspecting that the funds used were proceeds of unlawful activities. Another charge claims they converted $1,019,762.87 through a bureau de change to conceal the illicit origin of the funds.

Okoye pleaded not guilty to all charges. On March 3, 2025, the court granted Okoye bail of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties with properties in Lagos of equal value. He is also prohibited from leaving Nigeria without court approval.

March 4, 2025, Jude was arraigned the second time before Justice Rahman Oshodi of a Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos on fresh four-count charges bordering on stealing to the tune of $1,019,762.87( One Million, Nineteen Thousand, Seven Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand United States Dollars, Eighty Seven Cents) and £34,537.59( Thirty Four Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty Seven Pound Sterling, Fifty Nine Pence)

Jude, who was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, is facing a separate seven-count charge before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The fresh offences are alleged to have been committed between 2016 and 2023, and contravene Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

One of the charges reads: “Jude Chigozie Okoye and Northside Music Ltd sometimes in 2016 and 2023 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use, an aggregate sum of $767,544.15 (Seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand, Five hundred and forty-four dollars, Fifteen cents) which sum was paid by Lex Records Limited as payment for music digital distribution/publishing royalties and with intent to permanently deprive Peter Obunmuneme Okoye his special interest in the property.”