Jude Okoye, the elder brother and former manager of the defunct music duo P-Square, has been granted bail ahead of his trial for alleged financial fraud. The court set his bail at N100 million following charges of laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59, which he has pleaded “not guilty” to.
Okoye was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and initially remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Facility by Judge Alexander Owoeye at a federal high court in Lagos. During the proceedings, Okoye’s counsel, Inibehe Effiong, requested that he be kept in EFCC custody pending the trial, but the prosecution, led by Larry Peters Aso, objected, citing concerns over Okoye’s potential flight risk and witness interference.
A bail application was filed at Friday’s hearing, and the judge ultimately granted bail on Monday, setting stringent conditions. Okoye must present two sureties with landed properties in Lagos worth N100 million each, and the court will verify the property documents. Additionally, Okoye is prohibited from leaving the country without court approval. He will remain in custody until these conditions are met, with his trial scheduled to begin on April 14, 2025.
The allegations against Okoye come after years of public family tensions. The feud between Jude’s twin brothers, Paul and Peter Okoye, began in 2017, leading to the split of P-Square as they pursued solo careers. The rift reportedly stemmed from disagreements over Jude’s role as their manager.
Though the brothers briefly reconciled in November 2021, their reunion was short-lived. In August 2024, Paul accused Peter of orchestrating his arrest by the EFCC, leading to more accusations. Peter claimed that Jude had diverted millions of dollars from their joint account into a secret company, prompting him to seek the intervention of the EFCC after Paul reportedly encouraged him to “do your worst” during a heated conversation.
Jude, in his defense, expressed that he had made every effort to heal the rift between his brothers, even claiming to have “sacrificed himself” in the process.
