A Nigerian musician, Felix Duke Osagie, popularly known as Felix Duke, has been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged N21.2 million fraud.
Duke was arraigned on November 12, 2026, before Justice Ismail O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The EFCC Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 charged him with four offences bordering on stealing, obtaining money by false pretence, retention of proceeds of crime and giving false information.
According to the anti-graft agency, the musician allegedly stole and converted N21.25 million belonging to one Joseph Onuh Oguche in 2020.
One of the charges stated that Duke allegedly committed the offence with dishonest intent, contrary to Section 280 and punishable under Section 287 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.
Another charge accused him of providing false information to EFCC investigators on April 2, 2026, concerning a parcel of land at Ise, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, which he allegedly claimed he had authority to sell.
The commission said the statement was allegedly made to mislead investigators and was punishable under Section 39 of the EFCC Establishment Act, 2004.
Felix Duke pleads not guilty
The musician pleaded not guilty to all four charges when they were read to him.
Following his plea, prosecution counsel, Abdulhamid Lamido Tukur, requested a trial date and asked the court to remand the defendant in a correctional facility.
However, defence counsel, Sunday Afolabi, informed the court of a pending bail application dated November 4 and filed on November 5, 2026.
He said the application was supported by an 18-paragraph affidavit sworn by the defendant’s wife and urged the court to grant Duke bail on liberal terms or on self-recognisance.
In response, Tukur told the court that the prosecution had filed a 14-paragraph counter-affidavit dated November 10, 2026, opposing the bail application.
The prosecution counsel alleged that Duke had jumped EFCC’s administrative bail since July 2026.
He also told the court that the defendant had continued pursuing a fundamental rights enforcement suit in another court through his lawyer.
Tukur said the prosecution intended to call four witnesses during the trial.
Court grants N10m bail
Justice Ijelu granted Duke bail in the sum of N10 million, with two sureties in like sum.
The judge directed that one of the sureties must be a blood relative of the defendant.
Both sureties must reside in Lagos State, have paid taxes to the state government within the last three years and provide evidence of verifiable sources of income.
The court also ordered Duke to surrender his international passport to the registrar and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria pending the conclusion of the case.
Justice Ijelu adjourned the matter until December 16, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
The judge further ordered that the musician remain in a correctional facility until he fulfils his bail conditions.
Duke’s arraignment and the allegations against him do not amount to a conviction.
