Crime

Peter Okoye: EFCC Presents First Witness Against Ex-P-Square Manager Over Alleged N1.38bn Fraud

Published

1 year ago

April 15, 2025

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Peter Okoye: EFCC Presents First Witness Against Ex-P-Square Manager Over Alleged N1.38bn Fraud

Peter Okoye: EFCC presents first witness against ex-P-Square manager over alleged N1.38bn fraud. The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, on Monday, April 14, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, PW1, Peter Obumuneme Okoye, against Jude Chigozie Okoye, elder brother and former Manager of Paul and Peter Okoye, before Justice A. Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Okoye is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven- count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.38bn.

One of the counts reads: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Limited, sometime 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 ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira only), which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known form 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.”

He pleaded “not guilty” to the charges when they were read to him, upon his arraignment on February 26, 2025. At today’s proceedings, Jude described the defendant as his elder brother and former Manager of the group called P-square.

Led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Aso Larry’s Peters, Peter said: “The group, P-Square started sometime in 1997. But in 2017, it was disbanded. We stayed apart for about five years. But in November 2021, the group came back.

“Before Jude became our Manager, we had several managers, including Chioma Ugochi, who managed us when we were in the secondary school and in the University; and the late Bayo Odusami of Mbuntu music, who managed us for five years.

“Thereafter, my twin brother and I managed the band for a couple of months before we decided that he (Jude) would manage us and Northside Entertainment Limited.

“So, we continued running our business. But we were always having issues about how he was running the business. The issues were mainly about the fact that he was the sole signatory to all our bank accounts in Ecobank, Zenith and FCMB.

“These issues lasted for a couple of months. I didn’t have access to the accounts until the current Minister of Aviation, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, who was our lawyer, said we needed a sharing formula.”

While giving further evidence, he recalled an incident when the brothers were building their houses in Ikoyi, saying, “The funding of the house project was by Northwest Entertainment Ltd. But they just stopped financing my house for six months.

“The accounts were owned by the company, while Jude was the only signatory to all the accounts. At some, I approached him and my twin brother, Paul, to know why they stopped financing my project. But what I heard from them was “As you leave P-square, u leave the money’.

“With that comment, I had to approach our lawyer, Keyamo. “All our money is in Northside Entertainment, and he is the sole signatory.

“Along the line, I discovered that there’s a company similar to ours, Northside Music Limited.

“In 2022, I discovered this when some people wanted to acquire our albums. These individuals demanded our statements of account to know how much the albums were generating monthly.

The reason is that I didn’t have access to ‘backend’, which could be traced through a Northside account and through the aggregators (these are people you engage to know when they play your music on any medium, so you get paid). I then demanded that I wanted to know the backend. But he refused.

“Then, I went to my twin brother, Paul, who replied thus: “You know, I don’t know anything about it, but Jude.”

“When I suggested we go to see him, he said he would go and meet him, so I left him.”

He further told the court that when he approached Paul a few weeks after about it, Paul told him he had discussed the issue with Jude.

Giving further testimony, he told the court that : “ Thereafter, I approached Jude again. He told me that my share of the money was with some people in South Africa. I told him I was not asking for money , but the backend and the statements of the account. But there was no positive response.”

Following this discussion, he said he then reached out to the accounts officers in both Eco Bank and Zenith Bank, respectively . But he said he did not get satisfactory response from them.

According to him , “The account officer at the Zenith Bank later told me that Jude told him not to send it to me. The officer added that the only way I could get it was through the court.

“ I, however, discovered that the aggregators handling P-square’s Music Company were the same persons handling Paul and Peter. So, I approached Paul and told him to give them the albums of P-Square. But Jude and Paul were not comfortable with that.”

Also, Peter told the court that both Jude and Paul subsequently allowed him to give the catalogue to Mad Solution and he was assured that he would start receiving money after three months.

He said: “ Three months after, I received over $22,000 USD. I was also told that both Jude and Paul had been paid.

“ Until I called, I did not have an idea of a company called Northside music. I decided not to meet Jude over it. But when I approached Paul if he knew about Northside Music, he said I should check the album by Cynthia Morgan, who was then Jude’s artiste.

“When I checked Cynthia Morgan’s album, it was Northside Incorporation and not Northside Music. I then approached Jude for the same backend. He told me that it was going to take three and half months to retrieve the catalogue.

“And then forwarded the catalogue to me. My new management now sent it to people who wanted to buy it.”

Peter Okoye

According to him, “ By the time it was sent to me, it only bore numbers and not figures.

“They responded that the backend had been tampered with, which suggested that the people who offered $8000 USD could not offer $500 USD,owing to the fact that the numbers had reduced.

“ I went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) site, and discovered that the Directors of Northside Music were Jude Okoye and his wife. I also discovered that Jude’s wife owned 80%, while Jude owned 20%.

“On the backend, I was unable to get anything because it had been tampered with. One of those interested in buying the catalogue came to my house and invited Paul .

But his response was that “ I know Peter has told you this. …..When he came back after an hour, he told me that he was tired of all this and that I could do my worst.

“ The man handling our tax , Emmanuel, came to my house and said Jude should pay N2m or thereabouts.

“He said Jude was able to prove that since they broke up, they had not been performing. But when I checked the statements of accounts from January 1, to December 2017, I discovered that those who paid money to the Access Bank account were the aggregators.

“ I then contacted my lawyer, Afolabi l, who now took the matter to the EFCC.”

The case was adjourned till June 4, 2025 for cross-examination.

Related Topics:court crime economy Fraud Jude Okoye P-square Peter Okoye security

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Crime

Nigerian Police Foil Bandit Attack in Sokoto, Recover Rocket Launchers

Published

1 day ago

October 2, 2026

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Nigerian Police Foil Bandit Attack in Sokoto, Recover Rocket Launchers

The Sokoto State Police Command has foiled an attempted bandit attack on Tsabre community in Isa Local Government Area, recovering two rocket launchers and other items abandoned by the fleeing attackers.
Eereporter.com

The incident occurred around 1am on Friday when the armed men reportedly invaded the village and opened sporadic gunfire, causing panic among residents.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmad Rufa’i, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday.

He said the Divisional Police Officer in Isa, upon receiving a distress call, immediately mobilised tactical teams, including operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and Violent Crime Response Unit, to confront the attackers.

According to him, the police engaged the bandits in a gun battle, forcing them to retreat into a nearby forest.

“The tactical teams engaged the hoodlums in a fierce gun duel that lasted for some time. Due to the superior firepower and tactical positioning of the police operatives, the bandits were overpowered and forced to escape into the nearby forest with their casualties,” Rufa’i said.

He added that the police subsequently combed the surrounding bushes and recovered two rocket launchers and two empty AK-47 magazines.

Other items recovered included a Techno keypad phone without a battery, a touch light, an Army jungle hat, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.

The Commissioner of Police, Hayatu Shaffa, commended the officers for their swift response and courage during the operation.

Shaffa reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting lives and property across the state.

Police

He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious persons and activities to the police.

The CP further appealed to residents to report anyone with suspected gunshot wounds seeking medical attention to the nearest police station, as efforts continue to track the fleeing attackers.
Eereporter.com

Crime

Navy Rescues 2 Kidnapped Victims, Recovers Stolen Outboard Engines in Akwa Ibom

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2026

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Navy Rescues 2 Kidnapped Victims, Recovers Stolen Outboard Engines in Akwa Ibom

The Nigerian Navy has rescued 2 kidnapped victims and recovered several stolen outboard engines during an operation against sea robbery and kidnapping in the Ibeno general area of Akwa Ibom State on 30 September 2026.
Eereporter.com

The operation followed credible information on the activities of suspected sea robbers and kidnappers targeting fishermen and forcibly taking away fishing boats and outboard engines. In response, the Nigerian Navy Ship JUBILEE Maritime Quick Response Team, Ibeno, swiftly mobilised to the area to counter the threat.

During the operation, the naval team encountered 2 boats suspected to be operated by the criminals, prompting the occupants to flee into adjoining creeks. In the ensuing pursuit, the suspects abandoned one of the boats containing several stolen outboard engines and the 2 kidnapped victims, who were immediately rescued by the naval team and escorted to safety. The recovered outboard engines were secured for verification and further necessary action, while efforts are ongoing to locate and apprehend the fleeing suspects.

The successful operation underscores the Nigerian Navy’s sustained commitment to Search and Rescue (SAR), the protection of lives and the security of legitimate maritime activities across Nigeria’s waters. Through its network of ships, bases, surveillance systems, maritime quick response teams and other operational elements, the Nigerian Navy continues to maintain a presence across the maritime domain, enabling timely responses to distress situations and emerging security threats.

Navy

The operation also demonstrates the importance of credible intelligence and community support in enhancing maritime security. The Nigerian Navy therefore encourages coastal communities, fishermen and other maritime stakeholders to continue providing timely information that could assist in preventing criminal activities and responding rapidly to persons in distress.

The Nigerian Navy remains resolute in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime domain and will continue to sustain proactive patrols, Search and Rescue operations, and intelligence-driven interventions aimed at protecting lives and property while denying criminal elements freedom of action in the nation’s waterways.
Eereporter.com

Crime

Cyber-Fraud: EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of 431 Phones from Chinese Convicts

Published

3 days ago

September 30, 2026

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Cyber-Fraud: EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of 431 Phones from Chinese Convicts

The Lagos Zonal Directorate 1 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, secured the final forfeiture of 431 mobile phones to the Federal Government.
Eereporter.com

The mobile phones were linked to Chinese cyber-fraud operators who had previously been convicted by the court.

Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos issued the forfeiture order following a motion on notice filed by the EFCC through its counsel, Hannatu Kofarnaisa.

The court had earlier granted an interim forfeiture order on July 8, 2026, directing the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper to give interested persons or entities an opportunity to show cause why the phones should not be permanently forfeited.

While moving the application for final forfeiture, Kofarnaisa informed the court that the EFCC had complied with the directive by publishing the notice in The Guardian newspaper on August 11, 2026.

She added that no individual or entity came forward to contest the forfeiture within the period stipulated by the court.

The application was supported by an affidavit deposed to by an EFCC operative, Christopher Augustine, who detailed the findings of the Commission’s investigation.

According to the affidavit, the 431 mobile phones were linked to a cyber-fraud operation allegedly involving Chinese and Nigerian youths at a facility known as “HK” in Victoria Island, Lagos which was used to train and deploy Nigerian youths and foreign nationals to carry out romance, investment and cryptocurrency fraud.

While noting that victims in the United States, Canada, Mexico and parts of Europe were major targets, he revealed that a sting operation conducted on December 10, 2024, led to the arrest of more than 700 individuals, including about 500 Nigerians, 148 Chinese , 40 Filipinos and other foreign nationals.

The affidavit also stated that Genting International Company Limited (GICL), allegedly controlled by Huang Haoyu, also known as Ken, a Chinese and other foreign nationals, were involved in the operation.

According to the EFCC, Huang and GICL were subsequently charged with seven counts bordering on cyber terrorism, possession of fraudulent documents, failure to declare activities to the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), illegal foreign exchange transactions and money laundering.

The Commission stated that Huang and GICL pleaded guilty to the charges and were subsequently convicted and sentenced by the court.

He stated that the 431 devices were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities and were therefore subject to forfeiture pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.