Jude Okoye, P-Square’s former manager and elder brother of Peter and Paul Okoye, is still languishing and would be spending Salah break in prison custody.
ENigeria News reports that on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, Jude Okoye was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd., by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Alexandra Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion ($1 million and £34,537.59, $1,019,762.87), domiciled in Access Bank Plc and operated by Northside Music Ltd.
He was also alleged to have directly acquired a landed property known as No. 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, worth N850,000,000.00 (eight hundred and fifty million naira), all of which was “part of the proceeds of an unlawful act.”
The defendant was then granted bail by the court with two sureties in the like sum of N100 million. Justice Owoeye also ruled that the two sureties must provide documentation of their properties that fall within the court’s jurisdiction and fixed April 14, 2025, for trial.
ENigeria News reports that on March 6, 2025, the EFCC again proceeded to re-arraign Jude Okoye before a Special Offenses court in Ikeja headed by Justice Ramon Oshodi on similar charges, where he was again granted bail with two sureties in the like sum of N50 million each, while the court set April 16 and 23 for trial.
However, this newspaper has noted that Mr. Okoye has been locked up at the Ikoyi correctional center for one month and counting because judges are yet to sign the order to release him on bail.
A few days ago, our correspondent met with P-Square’s official attorney, barrister Somadina Eugene Okorie, in court and requested an audience to update us on his client’s release and how far he had gone, but he declined to do so. Meanwhile, court sources disclosed to ENigeria News correspondent exclusively that although the bail requirements for Justice Oshodi’s court have been fulfilled, the judge is allegedly on a brief vacation but is anticipated to return to work on April 6.
Speaking to our correspondent, the source further stated that “Justice Owoeye is yet to approve the bail for the Federal High Court since Barrister Somadina and his team are still trying to satisfy all the requirements.”
