Showbiz
EFCC to Arraign Jude Okoye on Fresh Theft Allegations
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Tuesday arraign Mr Jude Okoye on a fresh charge of $1 million and £34,537.59 theft before the Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja.
The accused is the elder brother and former manager of Paul and Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square.
Justice Rahman Oshodi will hear the four counts charge filed before the court on January 27 by the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Aso Larry Peters.
Mr Okoye’s arraignment before the court was initially slated for Monday (today) but could not go on because the defendant was absent in court as the Ikoyi Correctional Centre where he was remanded said it had not received any information for his arraignment.
In the charge, the EFCC accused Mr Okoye of dishonestly converting to his use the sum of $767,544.15, which was paid by Lex Records Limited as payment for music digital distribution/publishing royalties with intent to permanently deprive Mr Peter Okoye his special interest in the asset.
He was also accused to have sometimes between 2016 and 2023, dishonestly converted the sum of £34,537.59, paid by Lex Records Limited as payment for music digital distribution/ publishing royalties with intent to permanently deprive, Mr Peter Okoye his special interest in the asset.
The commission also alleged that Jude Okoye dishonestly converted the sum of $133,566.49, a sum paid by Kobalt Music digital distribution/publishing royalties with intent to permanently deprive his brother, Mr Peter Okoye, his special interest in the asset.
The anti-graft agency also said the defendant dishonestly converted the sum of $118,652.23, paid by Mtech Limited as payment for music digital distribution publishing royalties, with intent to permanently deprive his brother of his special interest.
According to the EFCC, the offences committed between 2016 and 2023, contravene sections 278 and 285 of the criminal laws of Lagos State 2011.
Meanwhile, another court, the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos on Monday granted a N100 million bail to the defendant, Mr Jude Okoye.
Justice Alexander Owoeye granted him bail with two sureties in the like sum.
The judge held that “one of the sureties must be the owner of a landed property, while the other surety must be a business owner with verifiable address.
“Both sureties shall show an affidavit of means”.
Justice Owoeye also ordered that the property title as well as the Bank Verification Number (BVN) shall be deposited before the court.
“The defendant shall not travel out of the country, pending the hearing and determination of the charges. The defendant shall continue to be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, pending the fulfillment of his bail conditions,” the judge held.
The case was adjourned till April 14, for the commencement of trial.
One of his brothers, Paul (second part of the former PSquare), who now goes by the stage name, Rude boy, was present in court to give support to the defendant.
Mr Okoye was arraigned on February 26, 2025, before the court, by the EFCC for an alleged crime of money laundering involving N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
He was arraigned alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on seven counts preferred against him by EFCC.
The Commission told the court that the defendant alongside his Northside Music Limited sometime in 2022, in Lagos, directly acquired a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth N850,000,000.(Eight hundred and fifty million naira) with money he knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of the proceeds of unlawful activities.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that Okoye and his company, in 2022, used a Bureau De Change to convert $1,019,762.87, held in an Access Bank account operated by Northside Music Ltd, into naira and transferred the funds into various bank accounts to conceal the illicit origin of the money.
According to EFCC, the offences committed contravene Sections 18 (2)(a) of the Money Laundering Prevention and Prohibition Act and are punishable under Section 18 (3) of the same Act.
Mr Jude Okoye pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The fight against content theft intensified on Thursday as MultiChoice Nigeria led stakeholders in a Walk Against Piracy from Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, drawing a powerful mix of Nollywood actors, filmmakers, directors, writers, media personalities, regulators, students, and members of the public.
The walk was part of a broader national advocacy campaign aimed at protecting Nigeria’s creative economy from the escalating damage of piracy. Participants marched through the Ikeja axis, distributing flyers, engaging passers-by, and educating the public on the dangers of piracy and its impact on livelihoods.
Veteran actor, Saidi Balogun, one of the leading voices at the walk, described piracy as “a silent killer draining the lifeblood of the creative industry.”
“People see the glamour but forget the sweat, months of work, and the hundreds of jobs behind a single film,” he said. “When you pirate a movie, you are killing someone’s dream, someone’s job, and the future of an entire industry. It must stop.”
Screenwriter and producer, Obi Emelonye, warned that piracy poses an existential threat to the next generation of creatives.
“Piracy is a menace eating deeply into the industry. If we do nothing, young creatives coming behind us will inherit an economy with no structure, no revenue, and no incentive to create,” he stated. “We cannot allow that future.”
The regulatory perspective came from Charles Amudipe, Deputy Director of Operations at the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), who emphasised both the legal and personal risks tied to piracy.
“Piracy is a criminal offence under Nigerian law, punishable by fines and imprisonment,” he said. “Beyond the legal consequences, consumers who download illegal content expose their devices to malware, identity theft, and financial fraud. It is not worth the risk.”
During the outreach, members of the public raised questions about affordability and alternatives to pirated content. The team responded by highlighting accessible, cost-friendly, and legal platforms available to consumers, underscoring that entertainment can be enjoyed responsibly without breaking the law.
Caroline Oghuma, Executive Head, Corporate Affairs at MultiChoice Nigeria, explained that the walk was a continuation of MultiChoice’s long-standing commitments to consumer education. Last month, the company led a school sensitisation programme at Kuramo Senior College in Victoria Island, teaching students how piracy harms creators and how they can unknowingly participate in it.
“We want to catch them young, take this message into communities, and meet Nigerians where they are,” Oghuma said. “Today’s walk is a reminder that protecting intellectual property is everyone’s responsibility. What we are fighting for is the survival of Nigeria’s creative future.”
Other notable participants included members of the Intellectual Property Law Advocacy Network (IPLAN), lawyers, media executives, content creators, and fans of Nigerian entertainment.
MultiChoice Nigeria reaffirmed its commitment to working with regulators, industry bodies, and stakeholders to champion policies, education, and enforcement mechanisms that safeguard creative work and ensure creators receive fair reward for their labour.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP) has debunked viral news reports that that the chairman of its board of trustees, Mr Olalere Osunpaimo, well known as Lere Paimo, was dead.
In a public notice from the national Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the organisation, Mr Adejonwo Oluwafemi Femson, it was disclosed that the veteran action is “alive and well.”
Members of the public were advised to disregard the death rumour.
“We would like to inform the public that reports circulating on Facebook about the passing of Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR) are FALSE.
“We have confirmed with Baba Eda Onile Ola’s wife that he is alive and in good health.
“Please disregard these false reports and be aware that they are being spread by unscrupulous individuals.
“Chief Olalere OsunPaimo (MFR), Chairman Board of Trustee Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (ANTP), is alive and well.
“We urge everyone to verify information before sharing to avoid spreading misinformation,” the notice disclosed.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The duo of Nivea and inDrive has been announced as the title sponsors of TikTok’s 2025 Sub-Saharan Africa Awards, while Coca-Cola, Dis-Chem and PEP Stores are the category sponsors.
As title sponsors, inDrive and NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will play key roles in amplifying creator recognition, supporting event experiences, and on-the ground activations.
NIVEA (Beiersdorf) will sponsor the Creator of the Year award, while inDrive will present the Storyteller of the Year award, both reflecting a shared passion for innovation, inclusivity and celebrating African voices making a global impact.
In addition, Coca-Cola is sponsoring Food Creator of the Year award, Dis-Chem is for the Social Impact Creator of the Year award, and PEP Stores is for the Entertainment Creator of the Year award.
This year’s event is slated for Saturday, December 6. It would be used to celebrate the continent’s most inspiring and innovative creators who are using the platform to educate, entertain, and empower their communities.
“We are delighted to partner with TikTok, as we share a long-standing relationship across the globe, including in the Sub-Saharan region. TikTok is a unique platform that enables us to engage with young audiences in a language and format that truly resonates with them.
“We extend our gratitude to the company for organizing The 2025 TikTok Awards Sub-Saharan Africa and congratulate all guests and participants on this remarkable event,” the Marketing Lead of inDrive Africa, Mikita Ponarin, stated.
“TikTok is proud to partner with great local and regional brands that support Africa’s creative economy. What excites us about these partnerships is the shared vision.
“These brands are making a conscious choice to invest in African creativity at a pivotal moment. They see what we see: that when we uplift creators, we strengthen entire communities and economies across the continent,” the Head of Content Operations for Sub-Saharan Africa,” Boniswa Sidwaba, said.
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