By Chibuzo Ihegboro
Jude Okoye, the former manager of the defunct music group P-Square,has been granted bail by the Lagos Special Offences court in an ongoing trial over an alleged theft of $1,019,763.87 and £34,537.59.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, presiding over the case, granted Okoye bail in the sum of N50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The court mandated that the sureties must reside within jurisdiction and provide proof of three years’ tax payments.
Additionally, the court ordered Okoye to surrender both his Nigerian and St. Kitts and Nevis passports, while the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, was directed to notify immigration authorities to prevent him from leaving the country.
During the hearing, Okoye’s lawyer, Clement Onwuenwnor, SAN, argued that the case was a civil dispute between business partners and requested that his client be released to his younger brother on bail.
However, the EFCC prosecutor, Mohammed Bashir, opposed the bail application, citing Okoye’s dual citizenship as a flight risk. He also noted that the charges against him were severe and could prompt him to abscond.
Despite the prosecution’s objections, Justice Oshodi ruled in favor of the defendant, stating that the court had considered all affidavits submitted.
The case has been adjourned to May 16 and 23, 2025, for further hearings.
