The Lagos Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Jude Chigozie Okoye, older brother and former manager of music duo Paul and Peter Okoye, before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Okoye faces fresh four-count charges related to the alleged theft of $1,019,762.87 (One Million Nineteen Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty-Two United States Dollars, Eighty-Seven Cents) and £34,537.59 (Thirty-Four Thousand Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Pounds Sterling, Fifty-Nine Pence).
Jude Okoye was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd. He is also facing a separate seven-count charge before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The new charges, which pertain to alleged offenses committed between 2016 and 2023, contravene Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
One of the charges alleges that Jude Okoye and Northside Music Ltd dishonestly converted $767,544.15 (Seven Hundred and Sixty-Seven Thousand Five Hundred and Forty-Four Dollars, Fifteen Cents) paid by Lex Records Limited for music digital distribution and publishing royalties, intending to permanently deprive Peter Obunmuneme Okoye of his rightful share.
Another charge accuses Okoye and his company of converting £34,537.59 (Thirty-Four Thousand Five Hundred and Thirty-Seven Pounds, Fifty-Nine Pence) from Lex Records Limited for the same purpose. Additionally, Okoye is alleged to have diverted $133,566.49 (One Hundred and Thirty-Three Thousand Five Hundred and Sixty-Six Dollars, Forty-Nine Cents) from Kobalt Music Services Limited and $118,652.23 (One Hundred and Eighteen Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Two Dollars, Twenty-Three Cents) from Mtech Limited, both paid as royalties.
When the charges were read to him, Okoye pleaded “not guilty.”
Prosecution counsel, M.K. Bashir, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand Okoye in a correctional facility. However, defense counsel Clement Onwenwnor, SAN, informed the court of a pending bail application and requested a short adjournment for its hearing. Onwenwnor also urged the court to remand Okoye in EFCC custody pending the bail hearing, noting that his client had been granted bail in a related case before Justice Owoeye on March 3, 2025.
Bashir opposed the request for EFCC custody, insisting that Okoye be remanded in a correctional facility following his plea.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the case to March 6, 2025, for the bail application hearing, and set trial dates for May 16 and 23, 2025. The judge ordered that Okoye be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the bail hearing.
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