Alleged $1m Theft: Witness Tells Court Jude Okoye’s Wife Owns 800,000 Shares in Northside Music Ltd
.jpeg)
The trial of music executive Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former manager of the award-winning duo P-Square, continued on Friday before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, with fresh revelations from the first prosecution witness, Peter Obumuneme Okoye. Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, are facing a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging the diversion of over $1 million belonging to the P-Square brand. The defendant has pleaded not guilty. During cross-examination, defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) confronted the witness with the company’s bank statements, but Peter Okoye insisted the accounts reflected the joint business interests of himself and his twin brother, Paul. “These statements belong to me and my brother. We are P-Square. The company belongs to Peter and Paul. It was registered by him,” he said. “I reported to the EFCC when I discovered funds were being diverted, and EFCC brought the matter to court.” He further told the court that he uncovered another entity, Northside Entertainment Company, allegedly diverting funds from their entertainment business. He also confirmed that the defendant’s wife holds 800,000 shares in Northside Music Limited. The defence sought to tender documents attached to the original EFCC petition, but prosecution counsel M.K. Bashir objected, arguing that the documents—though stamped as Certified True Copies—were not in the proper legal form for admissibility. Justice Oshodi, in a brief ruling, agreed with the prosecution and rejected the documents. “The documents originated from the CAC and ended in EFCC custody, but they do not meet the admissibility requirements of this court. I reject them and mark them as rejected,” the judge held. Peter Okoye also confirmed that he wrote a formal statement to the EFCC following the petition filed by his lawyer. The matter was adjourned to February 20 and 27, 2026, for continuation of trial.
| 2025-12-13 16:35:39