Jude Okoye's former lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has publicly defended his ex-client and criticized Peter Okoye for turning the family dispute into a "social media trial." In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, 5 August, Effiong clarified his past role in Jude's legal battles and addressed the ongoing feud between the Psquare brothers.
Effiong's Role in Jude's Legal Defense
Effiong confirmed that his law firm handled the early stages of Jude's legal defense, filing bail applications at both the Federal High Court and the High Court of Lagos State. He personally argued the bail application before the Federal High Court in September 2024, which was granted. A Senior Advocate of Nigeria later took over the case and continued from that point.
Effiong emphasized that bail conditions, such as surrendering a passport, are standard requirements and carry no implication of guilt. "Jude hasn't been convicted of any crime by any court of law. We should afford him his constitutional right to presumption of innocence," he wrote.
Peter Okoye Criticized for Public Drama
The sharpest criticism was directed at Peter Okoye, identified as the nominal complainant in two pending cases. Effiong expressed bewilderment that Peter chose to air the dispute on social media while the matter is still before competent courts. He noted that Peter's online statements differ from his admissions under cross-examination in court.
"I am not sure why he is doing this at this time. What he is saying online differs from the verifiable admissions he has been making under cross examination in court. He knows exactly what he is doing. He should focus his energy on testifying in court to support the charges against Jude, instead of resorting to media trial. The cases are in court, we should let the court decide the guilt or innocence of the defendant," Effiong wrote.
Police Officer Shows Support for Peter
In a related development, FCT Police Command spokesperson SP Josephine Adeh shared a throwback photo with Peter Okoye on Facebook on Tuesday, 4 August, adding the hashtag 'IbelievePeter.' The post has sparked mixed reactions, placing Adeh in the middle of the family feud.
The Psquare feud has escalated in recent weeks, with Peter revisiting alleged threats and a property dispute involving Jude in a widely shared video. Effiong's intervention underscores the legal complexities of the conflict, even as both sides continue to make their cases publicly.
