A dramatic legal battle unfolded at the Ikeja Special Offences Court on the 6th of March, 2025, as Jude Okoye, the former manager of the iconic music duo P-Square, was granted bail in the staggering sum of N50 million.
Okoye, the elder brother of Peter and Paul Okoye, finds himself at the center of a high-profile trial, facing allegations of stealing $1 million and £34,537. Alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd., he stands accused in a four-count charge of theft, a case spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
However, in a bold stance, he pleaded not guilty.
During the heated courtroom session, Justice Rahman Oshodi meticulously weighed the arguments before delivering his verdict on the bail application presented by Okoye’s lead counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN.
“The singular issue for determination is whether or not the court should exercise its discretion in favour of the first defendant by granting him bail.
“Section 115 (2) of the ACJL confers discretion upon this court to grant bail in cases not punishable by death.
“I am therefore satisfied that the issue of bail should be resolved in the defendant’s favour,” the judge ruled.
READ ALSO: Alleged N1.3bn, $1m, £34,000 Fraud: Court Remands P-Square’s Brother Jude Okoye in Prison
In light of this, the court granted bail under strict conditions N50 million, with two sureties of equal sum. The sureties must be gainfully employed and provide proof of three years’ tax payments to the Lagos State Government.
To tighten restrictions, Oshodi further ordered the surrender of the defendant’s dual citizenship documents to the court’s chief registrar.
Additionally, the EFCC was directed to notify the Immigration Office to withhold Okoye’s international passport until the case reaches its conclusion.
With the legal storm far from over, the trial is set to commence on the 16th of May, 2025, when both sides will battle it out in what promises to be an intense courtroom showdown.