The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate, on Wednesday, February 26, 2025, arraigned Jude Okoye Chigozie, the elder brother and former manager of the defunct P-Square music duo, before Justice A.O. Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Okoye was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, on a seven-count charge related to money laundering involving ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
One of the charges states:
*“That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie, and Northside Music Ltd, sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, directly acquired a landed property at No. 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, worth ₦850,000,000.00 (Eight hundred and fifty million naira), knowing or having reasonable grounds to believe that the funds used were proceeds of unlawful activity, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Another charge alleges:
*“That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie, and Northside Music Ltd, sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly converted $1,019,762.87 (One million, nineteen thousand, seven hundred and sixty-two dollars, eighty-seven cents) through a bureau de change operator. The amount, domiciled in an Access Bank Plc account operated by Northside Music Ltd, was converted to its naira equivalent and distributed across multiple bank accounts to conceal its origin as proceeds of an unlawful act. This constitutes an offence contrary to Section 18 (2)(a) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Okoye pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Following this, the prosecution counsel, L.P. Aso, requested a trial date and urged the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
However, the defence counsel, Inibehe Effiong, informed the court of a pending bail application and requested a short adjournment for its hearing. He also appealed for Okoye to remain in EFCC custody rather than a correctional facility.
Opposing the request, the prosecution argued that the EFCC detention facility was already overcrowded with suspects awaiting trial and insisted that Okoye be remanded in a correctional centre.
Justice Owoeye adjourned the bail hearing to February 28, 2025, and scheduled the trial for April 14, 2025. Meanwhile, Okoye was ordered to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
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