Entertainment
Alleged N1.3b fraud: Peter Okoye gives evidence against brother
The trial of the former Manager of P-Square group, Jude Okoye, on the alleged money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59, yesterday, witnessed the testimony of his younger brother, Peter Okoye, before a Federal High Court in Lagos. He is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven-count charge.
Jude is being tried before the court presided by Justice Alexander Owoeye’s Court, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He is being tried on the petition written to the commission by his brother, Peter.
Led in evidence by Aso Larry, the prosecutor, Peter told the court how his brother, Jude, incorporated another company to collect their royalties.
He said: “Sometimes in 2017, the group, P-square, disbanded. We were apart for nearly five years. In November 2021, the group came back.
“P-Square started in 1997-98. Before Jude became our manager, we had several managers, including Chioma Ugochi. She managed us when we were in secondary school and at university. We also had the late Bayo Odusami, who managed us for five years. After that, my twin brother and I managed ourselves for a couple of months before we decided that Jude should manage us and Northside Entertainment Ltd.
“So, we continued running our business, and sometimes we started having issues with how he ran the business. The issues were mainly on how he was the sole signatory to all our bank accounts in Ecobank, Zenith and FCMB.”
According to him, that continued until Mr. Festus Keyamo, now the Minister of Aviation, who was their lawyer, came up with a sharing formula. He pointed out a scenario when we were building our houses in Ikoyi, it was only the defendant that could sign out money. E noted that the financing of the house project was by Northwest Entertainment Ltd, which stopped financing the project for six months.
“When we came back, after six months, I approached the defendant and my twin brother, Paul, and asked why they stopped financing my project. They said, ‘As you leave P-square, you leave the money’. With that comment, I approached our lawyer, Keyamo.
According to him, after the group reunited and Jude was no longer the manager, he discovered a similar company, Northside Music Limited, and in 2022, he asked for access to the backend after people reached out to inquire about their statement of account to know how much the album generated, but was denied access by the defendant.
Peter further told the court that, based on the defendant’s response, he knew that something was going on. According to him, he then asked the accounts officers in both Eco Bank and Zenith Bank, who did not give satisfactory answers and was later told by the Zenith account officer that Jude asked not to give it to Peter.
Peter, in his evidence, further told the court that Jude and his twin brother, Paul, later gave the catalogue to Mad Solution, who paid over $22,000 to him after three months of signing.
He also told the court how he went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) site, where he discovered that the Director of Northside Music was Jude Okoye and his wife, adding that he also discovered that Jude’s wife owns 80 per cent while Jude owned 20 per cent.
-Guardian
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
Veteran rapper Michael Ugochukwu Stephens, popularly known as Ruggedman, has criticised the use of “Afrobeats” as a catchall term for all African music, calling it misleading.
In a recent interview with Day Genius, the rapper argued that the term is often used to group artistes who lack real talent and rely only on catchy beats.
The rapper also claimed that many artists in this category struggle with live performances and freestyling because they depend too much on autotune and studio effects.
Nollywood actress and comedian, Kudirat Abeniade Soremi, popularly known as Mama No Network, has bought a new car.
She posted on her Instagram page and shared pictures of her new car, congratulating herself.
“Congratulations to me. Your car is next in line for Jesus.
May the celebration never cease in our home. May God surround me and you with people who genuinely love and celebrate God’s gift in your life,” she posted.
Her colleagues and fans congratulated her on this feat. Rejoicing with her, Bimpe Akintunde wrote, “Congratulations, Iye mi
The actress is known for playing a deaf woman and mother in the Yoruba movie industry.
Last year, she was conferred with a chieftaincy title in Texas Ijebuland, which is (Yeye Owu Ojuwo of Ijebuland)
-Leadership
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
Wike Reaffirms Nigeria–EU Ties, Moves To Reclaim Encroached Diplomatic Lands
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