On February 26, 2025, Jude Okoye was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for claims of a ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59 (over $1,963,810 or ₦2.95 billion) money laundering case involving his record label, Northside Music Limited.
Last week, clips of him flanked by EFCC operatives circulated online. Okoye is the long-time manager and elder brother of P-Square (Paul and Peter Okoye), the singing duo that rose to fame in the mid-aughts. In 2017, the brothers went their separate ways.
The EFCC claimed in a statement that Okoye laundered ₦2.95 billion into multiple bank accounts. On Monday, March 3, 2025, he was arraigned at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Here’s a timeline of everything that has happened so far.
July, 2024: How it started
In July, news broke that the EFCC invited Paul and Jude Okoye over their financial dealings. At the time, the details of the case were unclear. But in an Instagram post, Paul (Rudeboy) debunked claims that he had amassed his wealth through fraudulent means. “Eagles eyes, all cleared. I no thief ohh. Na just good music de pay,” he said.
July 31, 2024: First EFCC arrest
Weeks later, Paul claimed that his twin brother, Peter (Mr. P) was behind the EFCC arrest. During an interview with City FM in July, he said, “I never thought it would get to this extent. First of all, what entered my mind was, what if I was into fraud? That’s how my brother would have finished me? But I took it.”
August 12 2024: Peter replies Paul
Peter responded with an open letter denying any involvement in his brother’s arrest. However, he admitted that he filed a petition against Jude and his wife, Ifeoma Okoye, to the EFCC.
In the letter, he said: “Peter, Paul and Jude own a management company together called Northside Entertainment, which we use to manage all of P-SQUARE’s affairs. One day, I discovered another company with a similar name, but this one was called Northside Music instead of Northside Entertainment.”
“This surprised me, so I decided to investigate further and guess what? To my shock, the founders and directors of this secret company were none other than JUDE Okoye and his wife Ifeoma Okoye, and the registered address was the family home of JUDE’s wife.”
“Still in shock, I knew I had to talk to PAUL about it. I approached him multiple times — at least four different times — asking if he knew anything about this secret company and the whereabouts of some of P-SQUARE’s royalties. Each time I met with him, he denied knowing anything about it.”
“Now, let’s get straight to the point. I want to make it clear that I never reported my twin brother PAUL to the EFCC. I know many of you were disappointed when PAUL accused me of doing so. He mentioned that I wrote a petition against him, which he claimed made the EFCC to ask him to provide a surety. This statement suggested that he was detained, which is not true.”
What is Northside Entertainment?
Northside Entertainment was a music management company owned by the three Okoye brothers. It managed all of P-Square’s portfolios. At the peak of her career, Northside Entertainment also managed Cynthia Morgan, although they parted ways over contract issues. Since the Okoye brothers (Paul and Peter) officially separated in 2017, the relationship between the brothers has been in turmoil, which has also affected their joint business ventures.
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August 17, 2024: Jude’s response
On August 17, Jude addressed the situation in a live Instagram stream. He denied every allegation made by Peter that he diverted P-Square’s royalties worth millions of US dollars into any private account. “Northside Music is not a secret company. This is publishing royalties, and we have an agreement that P-Square proceeds go three ways,” he said.
“I’ve not been with P-Square for the past eight years, since 2016… When I asked for us to resolve the issues, Peter said no, that ‘let bygones be bygones,’” Jude added.
On August 19, on his Instagram, Paul (Rudeboy) asked Peter (Mr. P), “Even if we don’t do P-Square, can’t we be brothers? Even if we can’t do music, can’t we be brothers?”
February 2025: Jude’s second EFCC arrest
On February 26, 2025, the EFCC arraigned Jude Okoye before Judge Owoeye of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
In a post by the EFCC on February 28, 2025, the agency said that it had arraigned Jude and his company, Northside Music Ltd, “on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38billion, $1million and £34,537.59.”
“That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometimes in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth it ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira) only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge reads, “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Ltd sometimes in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did indirectly using bureau de change, converted the sum of $1,019,762.87 (One million nineteen thousand, seven hundred and six-two dollars eighty seven cents), domiciled in Access Bank Plc operated by Northside Music Ltd to the naira equivalent and remitted into various bank accounts with intention of concealing that the said fund formed part of the proceeds of an unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
The EFCC said that he was arraigned on seven charges, but only two have been made public. It didn’t say anything about the royalties diversion allegations.
After his arraignment on Wednesday last week, Jude pleaded “not guilty” to all the charges. Justice Alexander Owoeye ordered that Jude be remanded in the Ikoyi correctional facility and adjourned the case until February 28 for a bail hearing.
February 28, 2025: Bail Hearing
During the bail hearing on February 28, Justice Alexander Owoeye fixed March 3, 2025, for the ruling on the bail. The judge also set April 14, 2025 for the trial.
March 3, 2025: Court grants Jude bail
On Monday, March 3, 2025, Jude was granted bail on the condition that he provide two sureties, each with landed properties in Lagos worth ₦100 million, which the court will verify. The judge also said that he was now allowed to leave the country without approval and would remain in the correctional facility until the conditions of the bail were met.
