Omotayo Fashola
A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice A. Owoeye, has postponed the high-profile N1.38 billion fraud case involving Jude Chigozie Okoye—older sibling and ex-manager of P-Square duo Paul and Peter Okoye—to October 23, 2025, for further proceedings.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, is prosecuting Jude and his firm, Northside Music Limited, on seven counts linked to alleged money laundering involving the staggering sum of N1.38 billion.
One of the charges alleges: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Limited, in 2022 within Lagos jurisdiction, unlawfully acquired property No. 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, valued at N850,000,000.00, knowing the funds were proceeds of illegal activities—an offense under Section 18(2)(d) and punishable per Section 18(3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Jude entered a “not guilty” plea during his arraignment on February 26, 2025.
During the June 4 hearing, Peter Obumuneme Okoye, the first prosecution witness (PW1), testified under cross-examination by defense counsel Clement Onwuewunor SAN. He denied signing company cheques or accessing accounts while under Northside Entertainment and clarified that payments received from Ecobank were sourced from endorsements and performances—not royalties.
He further revealed he only learned of Northside Music Limited’s existence in late 2022 and confirmed receiving no proceeds from Lex Records during his affiliation with the company.
Justice Owoeye adjourned proceedings to October 23 and November 10, 2025, for continued trial.
John Okoro
