Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, has been remanded in prison following his arraignment on fresh fraud charges involving $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a four-count charge against Okoye, alleging that he dishonestly converted funds received as music proceeds from three companies for his personal use. The EFCC claims his actions were meant to deprive his brother, Peter ‘Mr. P’ Okoye, of his share of the payments.
According to the charges filed on January 27, 2025, Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, allegedly diverted over $767,000 from Lex Records Limited for digital music distribution and publishing royalties, along with £34,537.59 from the same company. He is also accused of misappropriating more than $133,000 from Kobalt Music Services Limited and another $118,000 from Mech Limited. The EFCC states that these actions violate sections 278 and 285 of Lagos State’s criminal law of 2011.
On Tuesday, Okoye appeared before Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Clement Onwuenwunor, argued that the dispute was a family matter between the P-Square brothers and noted that Okoye had already been granted bail in a similar case at the Ikoyi court. He urged the judge to grant him bail, assuring that Okoye, as a well-known figure, would not abscond.
However, the EFCC’s prosecuting lawyer, MK Bashiru, opposed the bail request, stating he had not yet filed a response. Justice Oshodi ruled that he could not hastily grant bail without reviewing the necessary documents and scheduled a hearing on the bail application for March 6. The trial dates were set for May 16 and 23.
Jude Okoye’s legal troubles come just a day after he was granted N100 million bail in a separate fraud case. Last week, he was arraigned by the EFCC on charges of laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59 and was remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility by Justice Alexander Owoeye of a federal high court in Lagos.
The long-standing feud between the Okoye brothers dates back to 2017, when Paul and Peter split P-Square over disagreements, particularly concerning Jude’s role as their manager. Although they reunited briefly in 2021, tensions resurfaced in August 2024 when Paul accused Peter of orchestrating Jude’s arrest.
Peter denied the allegations, claiming Jude had secretly diverted millions of dollars from their joint account. He said he only involved the EFCC after Paul challenged him to “do your worst.”
Jude, in his defense, maintained that he had sacrificed himself in an effort to mend the rift between his brothers.