The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh charges against Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, over allegations of theft involving over $1 million and £34,000.
Okoye appeared before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Tuesday, March 4, where the EFCC accused him and his company, Northside Music Limited, of dishonestly diverting funds meant for singer Peter Okoye.
According to EFCC prosecutor Mohammed Bashiru, Okoye allegedly misused $767,544.15 paid by Lex Records Limited for digital distribution and publishing royalties. He was also accused of converting £34,537.59 from the same source, along with $133,566.49 from Kobalt Music and $118,652.23 from Mtech Limited between 2016 and 2023.
“These payments were meant for music royalties, but the defendant dishonestly converted them for his personal use, depriving Peter Okoye of his rightful earnings,” Bashiru stated in court. The EFCC maintains that the offences violate Sections 278 and 285 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws, 2011.
Meanwhile, this fresh charges come just a day after Jude Okoye was granted bail by the Federal High Court on a separate seven-count charge. The court had set bail at N100 million, requiring two sureties of the same amount.
Lastly, Okoye pleaded not guilty to the new charges, and his lawyer, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), confirmed that a bail application had already been filed on February 27, 2025.
Speaking on the case, Onwuenwunor dismissed the fresh charges as baseless and vowed to challenge them in court. “We’ll show at the trial that this charge shouldn’t have been filed in the first place,” he stated, insisting that Okoye would prove his innocence as the legal battle unfolds.
