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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Absence of Peter stalls elder brother’s alleged N1.3bn fraud trial

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • The trial of Jude Okoye, former manager of P-Square, was adjourned due to the absence of a key prosecution witness, Peter Okoye.
  • Peter Okoye, the nominal complainant, was scheduled for cross-examination but reportedly missed his flight from Abuja to Lagos.
  • The defense counsel questioned the prosecution's explanation, suggesting the witness might still be in Lagos.

The fraud trial of Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct music group P-Square, faced a setback at the Federal High Court in Lagos. The proceedings were stalled Wednesday because the prosecution's key witness and nominal complainant, Peter Okoye, failed to appear for his scheduled cross-examination by the defense.

Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, are currently on trial before Justice Alexander Owoeye. They face seven counts of alleged fraud totaling N1.3 billion and $1 million. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought the charges, and both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The witness called and told me that his flight from Abuja was rescheduled. That was why he could not make it to court today.

— G. C AkaoguEFCC's counsel explaining Peter Okoye's absence to the court.

During the resumed hearing, the EFCC's counsel, G. C Akaogu, informed the court that Peter Okoye could not attend because his flight from Abuja to Lagos had been rescheduled. The prosecutor stated he had notified the defense counsel of this development.

The prosecutor informed me of the development when I was at Falomo, close to the court. I complained bitterly because I ought to be in Akure for another matter.

— Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN)Defense counsel expressing frustration over the adjournment.

However, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), representing the defendants, challenged this explanation. While acknowledging he was informed of the witness's absence, the senior advocate expressed skepticism about the flight disruption claim. He stated that information available to him suggested Peter Okoye had not traveled and remained in Lagos, questioning the prosecutor's account.

Justice Owoeye adjourned the case to September 21, 2026, for the continuation of the trial, without ruling on the conflicting claims about the witness's whereabouts. The case stems from allegations by the EFCC concerning fraudulent transactions involving Jude Okoye and Northside Music Limited.

In fact, I was just told that the witness did not travel. He is in Lagos, and I do not know why the prosecutor said his flight was rescheduled.

— Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN)Defense counsel questioning the prosecution's reason for the witness's absence.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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