Jude, alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, was arraigned after being granted bail following a previous arraignment on a separate seven-count charge before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, by the anti-graft agency. Prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, subsequently requested a trial date and for the defendant to be remanded in a Correctional Centre.
On the other hand, Onwenwnor, representing the defense, requested that the defendant be remanded in the custody of the EFCC pending the hearing of his bail application. However, Bashir objected to the defendant’s remand in EFCC custody.
One of the charges reads: “Jude Chigozie Okoye and Northside Music Ltd, sometime between 2016 and 2023, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use an aggregate sum of $767,544.15 (Seven hundred and sixty-seven thousand, five hundred and forty-four dollars and fifteen cents), which was paid by Lex Records Limited for music digital distribution/publishing royalties, with the intent to permanently deprive Peter Obunmuneme Okoye of his special interest in the property.” Additionally, he is accused of diverting $133,566.49 (One Hundred and Thirty-three Thousand, Five Hundred and Sixty-six Dollars, Forty-nine Cents) paid by Kobalt Music Services Limited and $118,652.23 (One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-two Dollars, Twenty-three Cents) paid by Mtech Limited as royalties.
Jude Chigozie Okoye, the older brother and former manager of the musical duo P-Square (Paul and Peter Okoye), was remanded in prison on Tuesday after being arraigned on a fresh four-count charge. The charges are related to the alleged theft of $1,019,762.87 and £34,537.59, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The charges were brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Another charge against him states: “Jude Chigozie Okoye and Northside Music Limited, between 2016 and 2023, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, dishonestly converted to your own use an aggregate sum of GBP 34,537.59 (Thirty-four thousand, five hundred and thirty-seven pounds and fifty-nine pence), which was paid by Lex Records Limited for music digital distribution/publishing royalties, with the intent to permanently deprive Peter Obunmuneme Okoye of his special interest in the property.”
