The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has distanced itself from Peter Okoye’s allegation that his brothers, Jude and Paul, withdrew and shared more than $800,000 belonging to the family’s music enterprise. At the recent trial at the Ikeja High Court, EFCC counsel M.K. Bashir told the court the commission had no record to support the claim.
Recall that Peter Okoye had previously testified that he discovered new information showing that “more than $800,000 was withdrawn and distributed” between March 2023 and October 2024. However, during cross-examination, he changed the alleged withdrawal period to between 2013 and 2014.
Responding to defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor, who pressed the EFCC to produce evidence of the alleged withdrawal by Jude and Paul Okoye, Bashir disclosed that he has no proof to support the allegation.
“We do not have it. It is his evidence. Let him prove it. I can’t give what I don’t have,” he said.
The defence then demanded documentation for Peter’s claim that Jude operated 47 bank accounts, which Bashir also denied having evidence for.
“I do not have 47 bank accounts. It is one of the witness’s claims, but I do not have such a copy,” he added.
Justice Rahman Oshodi rejected the defence’s oral application for an order compelling Peter to produce the accounts, stressing that the documents “are neither before the court nor part of the admitted evidence” and should be sought via a formal application.
The case was opened after Peter petitioned the EFCC in January 2024, accusing Jude of diverting royalties, operating undeclared accounts and using company proceeds to purchase an N850m property in Ikoyi.
The trial continues on the 12th of December, 2025.
