Entertainment
P-Square fraud trail: EFCC disowns Peter’s $800k claim against Jude
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja that it has no evidence to support the allegation that Jude and Paul Okoye of P-Square fraudulently withdrew $800,000, contrary to claims made by their brother, Peter Okoye.
Peter had in 2024 petitioned the EFCC accusing Jude of diverting the P-Square group funds, operating 47 undeclared bank accounts and manipulating the share structure of Northside Entertainment Ltd, a company jointly owned by them
The EFCC subsequently filed charges against Jude over alleged financial misconduct in the management of the P-Square brand.
During resumed cross-examination, EFCC counsel, M.K. Bashir, told Justice Rahman Oshodi that the commission could not present evidence for the alleged withdrawal.
When asked by the judge to substantiate Peter’s claim, Bashir said: “We do not have it. It is his evidence. Let him prove it. I can’t give what I don’t have.”
Peter had testified on May 23, 2025, that he obtained new evidence showing how Jude and Paul allegedly withdrew and shared more than $800,000 between March 2023 and October 2024.
But when defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN, confronted him with inconsistencies, he shifted his position, stating that the alleged withdrawal actually occurred between 2013 and 2014.
The defence further challenged Peter’s assertion that Jude operated 47 bank accounts.
Peter insisted the EFCC held the evidence, but Bashir denied the claim, saying: “I do not have 47 bank accounts. It is one of the witness’s claims, but I do not have such a copy.”
Onwuenwunor asked the court to order Peter and the EFCC to produce the alleged 47 accounts.
Justice Oshodi however rejected the request and ruled that the defence must apply formally since the documents were neither before the court nor part of the admitted evidence.
The defence also confronted Peter over his claim that Jude owned 80 per cent of Northside Entertainment.
Although Peter maintained he had proof, the defence tendered CAC records contradicting his assertion.
Peter was further questioned on his claim that he was unaware of the existence of Northside Music and that Jude signed artist Cynthia Morgan without his knowledge.
He said he only discovered the company in 2024 when Cynthia Morgan sent him her contract on Northside Entertainment letterhead, adding that while the contract was signed with Northside Music, her albums were credited to Northside Inc.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to December 12, 2025, for continuation of trial.
TheGazelleNews, popular Lagos based online newspaper is set to honour the trio of Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon, Asiwaju Olorunfumi Bashorun and Chief Waliu Ojuko for their contribution to democracy and governance in Nigeria.
Solomon, Bashorun and Ojuko will be honoured with the flagship award of the online newspaper, the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2026 Annual Public Lecture and Award of the newspaper scheduled to hold on Wednesday, 15 July, 2026.
The lecture with the theme: Driving Grassroots Governance with Public-Private Partnership: The Gains, the Pains, the Prospects will be delivered by Chief Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication
According to a statement by the Chairperson of the Organising Committee for the event, Mrs Adetutu Audu-Adebisi, the Lifetime Achievement Award is the flagship award for politicians who have distinguished themselves and contribute immensely to the democracy and governance in the country.
”Our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu won the maiden award in 2022 while the Chairman of the influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Prince Tajudeen Oluyole Olusi won it in 2024.
”This year we are honouring three distinguished Nigerians who have played major roles in governance and sustenance of democracy in the country,” Mrs Audu-Adebisi said.
Senator Ganiyu Olanrewaju Solomon popularly called GOS by many is a deeply rooted grassroots politician.
Senator Solomon has developed a political career that has made him a man of the people.
He was former Executive Chairman of Mushin Local Government, was a member of the House of Representatives between 2003 and 2007 where he represented Mushin Federal Constituency I.
Between 2007 and 2015, Senator Solomon represented Nigeria’s biggest Senatorial District, Lagos West where he rose to become the Minority Whip of the Upper Chamber.
A Rotarian, Solomon is very popular among the people particularly those at the grassroots.
Presently, he is a member of the very influential Governance Advisory Council (GAC) and is the APC Apex Leader for Mushin combining the two Federal and State Constituencies.
Elder Statesman, Asiwaju Reuben Olorunfumi Bashorun is the first Secretary to the State Government (SSG) when he served the administration of the late Lateef Kayode Jakande between 1979 and 1983.
A former banker and highly referred politician, Asiwaju Olorunfumi Bashorun was an active player in the aborted Third Republic.
A member of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Bashorun was one of the leaders who contributed to the success of late MKO Abiola in the SDP presidential primary in Jos.
The Igbogbo-born politician was in the forefront of the struggle for the actualisation of the June 12 election.
Presently, he is a member of the GAC.
Chief Waliu Olajide Ojuko is a highly respected Awori politician.
Born in Ota, Ogun State, Chief Ojuko had a highly distinguished civil service life in both state and federal civil service in Lagos and Ogun states before venturing into politics.
He was a director at Gateway Hotels during the administration of late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo
He was Ogun state Secretary of the Social Democratic Party where he played key role in delivering Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola at the Jos Convention and his electoral victory alongside former Governor Olusegun Osoba.
He was Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperative & Tourism under Olusegun Osoba;
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs under Senator Ibikunle Amosun; and
Senior Special Adviser Political Affairs under Gov. Dapo Abiodun
Chief Ojuko is the
Olotu of Ota Aworiland;
Balogun Ojokoro, Lagos;
President, Iganmode Club, Ota;
Member, Abeokuta Sports Club;
Member, Lagos Island Club; and
National President, Iganmode Grammar School Old Students Association
Nigerian rapper Odumodublvck has come under heavy fire after making a controversial claim about hip-hop.
The ‘Declan Rice’ crooner sparked fresh controversy after re-echoing Wizkid’s infamous claim that hip-hop music is no longer relevant.
While reacting to a list of Nigerian artists with the most monthly listeners on Spotify currently via X, Odumodublvck boldly declared, “Hip Hop is dead,” alluding to the conspicuous absence of Nigerian rappers from the list.
His post elicited mixed reactions, with many berating him for disrespecting the genre while arguing that hip-hop is still much relevant outside Nigeria.
Despite Nigeria having both veteran and thriving rappers, hip-hop artists are absent from the list of Nigerian artists with the most monthly listeners on Spotify currently, with singers occupying the entire top 10.
Burna Boy leads with 40.68 million listeners, closely followed by Tems with 40.64 million listeners.
Rema ranks number 3 with 29.43 million listeners, while Ayra Starr and Wizkid take the numbers 4 and 5 spots with 16.84 and 16.81 million listeners, respectively.
Omah Lay (11.24m), Davido (10.83m), CKay (10.71m), Fireboy DML (9.23m), and Asake (8.69m) complete the top 10.
Grammy Award-winning singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has revealed how nervous she felt while performing at the official dedication of the Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago on Wednesday.
The singer shared on X that nerves got to her after she mistakenly called former U.S. President Barack Obama’s daughter by the wrong name while addressing the crowd.
“I am so blessed and honoured to be here… this one is to you, everyone, here, to Mr and Mrs Obama, to Sandra, and all the family,” Tems said before her set, wearing a red gown.
She later posted on X: “Lord knows I was nervous! Please forgive me!!!”
The ceremony took place at John Lewis Plaza on the centre’s 19-acre campus, formally unveiling the $850 million facility ahead of its public opening on June 19.
Tems joined a global lineup that included Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, John Legend, Christina Aguilera, Common, Bono, The Edge, Marc Anthony, and The Roots.
The three-day programme opened with the June 18 dedication, followed by public access and community activities through June 21.
The Obama Presidential Centre also displays a portrait by Nigerian-born artist Njideka Akunyili Crosby, marking Nigerian representation at the site.
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