EFCC Presents First Witness in $1M Fraud Case Against Ex-P-Square Manager
High-Profile Trial Unfolds in Lagos Court
The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its first prosecution witness on Friday, May 16, 2025, in the high-profile case against Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former manager of music duo Paul and Peter Okoye (P-Square).
Charges and Allegations
Okoye and his company, Northside Music Ltd., face four counts of alleged theft totaling $1 million and £34,537. The case is being heard before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the State High Court in Ikeja, Lagos.
Key Testimony Reveals Ownership Structure
Prosecution witness Peter Obumuneme Okoye (aka Mr P), testifying under lead counsel Mohammed Bashir, revealed surprising details about the company’s ownership:
“I went to the EFCC with my lawyer to submit the petition on January 22, 2024. Through the Commission’s investigation, we discovered Jude’s wife, Ifeoma, owns 80% of Northside Music Ltd, with Jude holding the remaining 20%,” the witness stated.
Financial Irregularities Uncovered
The testimony highlighted several financial concerns:
- 47 bank accounts allegedly used by Jude to receive royalties
- Discrepancies in royalty payments after P-Square’s reunion
- Potential tampering with financial records affecting catalog sales
Background of the Music Group
The witness recounted the group’s history:
“We started our music career in 1999 and formed Northside Entertainment Ltd in 2005-2006. Jude was sole signatory to all company accounts at Eco Bank, FCMB, and Zenith Bank.”
He detailed the group’s breakup in 2017 and reunion in 2021, noting that during the separation period, “I never received any royalty payments into our company accounts.”
Impact on Business Deals
The financial issues reportedly affected potential business opportunities:
“When considering selling our catalogs, seven companies reconsidered after discovering Jude had tampered with the original back-end records,” the witness testified.
Next Steps in the Trial
The prosecution successfully admitted the January 22, 2024 petition as evidence without objection from defense counsel Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN. The case has been adjourned to May 23 for continuation of trial.
Full credit to the original publisher: Dateline NG