Jude Okoye, former manager of the legendary P-Square and the eldest of the Okoye brothers, has found himself back behind bars. This time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is coming at him with a fresh set of fraud charges, stacking up to a staggering $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59.
On Monday, the anti-graft agency dropped a four-count charge against Okoye, accusing him of pocketing funds meant for music royalties from three different companies—Lex Records Limited, Kobalt Music Services Limited, and Mech Limited. According to the charges, Okoye allegedly siphoned the following amounts into his own pockets:
- $767,544.15 from Lex Records Limited for music distribution and publishing royalties.
- £34,537.59 from Lex Records Limited for the same purpose.
- $133,566.49 from Kobalt Music Services Limited.
- $118,652.23 from Mech Limited.
The EFCC claims Okoye’s actions directly deprived Peter ‘Mr. P’ Okoye—one-half of the defunct P-Square—of his rightful earnings. Prosecutors say the offenses violate sections 278 and 285 of Lagos State’s criminal law.
“Not Guilty,” But Still in Custody
On Tuesday, Okoye stood before Justice Ramon Oshodi of the Ikeja High Court, where he pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. His defense lawyer, Clement Onwuenwunor, argued that Okoye was already entangled in a similar case at an Ikoyi court, where he had been granted bail.
Onwuenwunor painted his client as a responsible figure in the entertainment industry, pushing for bail while emphasizing that this was a family dispute blown out of proportion. But the prosecution, led by MK Bashiru, wasn’t having it. Bashiru opposed the bail application, claiming he needed time to file a formal response.
Justice Oshodi, playing it by the book, refused to grant an immediate bail request, instead instructing the prosecution to file their response before the next hearing on March 6. Meanwhile, the trial has been set for May 16 and 23, leaving Okoye cooling off in custody for now.
A Family Feud Turned Legal War
The Okoye brothers' drama is straight out of a Nollywood script. It all started in 2017 when Paul and Peter Okoye’s fallout led to the breakup of P-Square. At the heart of the split was Jude, their elder brother and longtime manager, whom Peter accused of mishandling group affairs.
Though the twins reunited in 2021, their peace was short-lived. By August 2024, things escalated again. Paul claimed Peter was behind his arrest by the EFCC, while Peter clapped back, alleging that Jude had been secretly diverting millions of dollars from their joint account.
Peter, feeling backed into a corner, reportedly involved the EFCC after Paul allegedly told him to “do your worst” when confronted over the missing funds. Jude, on his part, insists he has done nothing but try to mend fences between his feuding younger brothers—even at his own expense.
Now, with Jude back in prison, the Okoye family saga has taken yet another dramatic twist—one that could have serious legal consequences.
