The trial of Jude Okoye, former manager of P-Square, and his company, Northside Music Ltd., continued at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja with Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourning proceedings until October 10 and 17 for further hearing.
This followed an intense cross-examination of Peter Okoye, one half of the iconic music duo P-Square, who is a key witness in the case.
Jude Okoye and his company are facing a four-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), including allegations of dishonestly converting $767,544.15 for personal use.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges.During his initial testimony on May 16, Peter alleged that he was defrauded by Jude and the company.
However, under cross-examination by defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Peter’s account was challenged as inconsistent and misleading.
One of the key discrepancies highlighted was Peter’s claim of being a graduate of the University of Abuja.
The defence presented evidence showing he did not complete his studies at the institution.
When pressed further, Peter acknowledged in court that he had not graduated, despite stating otherwise in a written submission to the EFCC.
Further scrutiny was directed at Peter’s assertions that he had no access to Northside Entertainment’s financial operations.
The defence presented a bank mandate identifying Jude as a Category A signatory and both Peter and Paul Okoye as Category B signatories, contradicting Peter’s claim that Jude held exclusive financial control.
Additionally, bank records were tendered showing that Peter had made significant withdrawals in both naira and dollars from the company’s account, and had received direct transfers from Jude.
The transactions appeared to contradict Peter’s claim that he never personally benefited from the company’s finances.
Another point of contention involved royalty payments from Mad Solutions, the company managing P-Square’s music catalogue.
Peter had testified that he was unaware of any contract with Mad Solutions and claimed to have received only $25,000 and $20,000 in royalties.
However, the defence submitted documents indicating that Peter, Paul, and Jude all signed the contract and had equal entitlements.
The records further showed that Peter’s actual royalty payments were $4,330.47 and $5,837.35, amounts significantly lower than those he stated under oath.
“Peter’s testimony before the EFCC is riddled with lies and misrepresentations. He has made multiple assertions that have now been shown to be false under cross-examination.
“This is not just a matter of forgetfulness. This is an intentional effort to mislead investigators and this honourable court,” Onwuenwunor told the court.
Justice Oshodi admitted several documents, including bank statements and EFCC records, into evidence.
He also urged the defence to ensure all materials are shared with the prosecution ahead of the next sessions to expedite the trial process.
“If you intend to use a document, make it available to them to make the trial faster,” the judge advised.
