A Lagos court has granted bail to Jude Okoye, the former manager of the now-defunct music duo P-Square, in an ongoing fraud trial. Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja approved bail for Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, setting the amount at N50 million. The court also required two sureties in the same sum.
Okoye and his company are facing allegations of theft totaling $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59. The case, brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), involves accusations of misappropriating royalties from digital music distribution and publishing. The prosecution claims the offences occurred between 2016 and 2023.
During the court session, EFCC prosecutor Mohammed Bashir stated that Okoye and Northside Music Limited had allegedly converted over $1 million and £34,000 meant for digital music royalties. These charges fall under sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
In response, Okoye’s legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Clement Onwuenwunor, had previously filed a bail application dated February 27, 2025. The court had postponed the decision until March 6, 2025, ordering Okoye to remain in custody at Ikoyi Correctional Centre until then.
Apart from this case, Okoye is also dealing with another legal matter at the Federal High Court, where he faces a separate seven-count charge. On Monday, that court granted him bail for N100 million, also requiring two sureties.
Justice Oshodi outlined the bail conditions, stating that the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction and provide proof of tax payments for the past three years. Additionally, the court ordered Okoye to surrender his two international passports, and the Nigerian Immigration Service was notified of the restriction.
