Jude Okoye, elder brother and ex-manager to twin-singers of P-Square fame, Peter and Paul, has been remanded over alleged stealing of $1m, and £34,000, an allegation his younger brother, Peter, levelled against him.
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, on Tuesday, ordered that Jude should be in custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing of his bail application.
At the instigation of Peter who is estranged with his siblings, Jude, and his Northside Music Limited Company were arraigned before the court on four counts bordering on stealing and conversion of $1m and £34,000 royalties got from the music digital distribution/publishing.
Through the prosecution, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, at his arraignment, the court heard that the defendant committed the alleged offences sometime between 2016 and 2023.
EFCC said Jude and his Northside Music Limited dishonestly converted the sum of $767,544.15, to his personal use.
The said sum, according to the account given by the EFCC was paid by Lex Records limited as payment for music digital distribution/publishing royalties.
Additionally, the anti-graft agency told the court that the defendant dishonestly converted another sum of £34,537.59, paid by Lex Records Limited as payment for music digital distribution/ publishing royalties, thereby depriving Peter Okoye his special interest in the property.
It also said that the P-Square’s ex-manager dishonestly converted the sum of $133,566.49, which sum was paid by Kobalt Music digital distribution /publishing royalties with the intent to permanently deprive Peter Okoye his special interest in the property.
Other is: alleged diversion of $118,652.23, paid by Mtech Limited as payment for music digital distribution publishing royalties, thus depriving Peter Okoye his special interest in the property.
Those offences, the EFCC said, contravened Sections 278 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State 2011.
On his part, Jude pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Then, Justice Oshodi adjourned the hearing of the bail application till March 6, 2025.
