Publication

Then, almost inevitably, attention shifts. People move on; new stories take over, and the case fades from public discourse, but when it is a criminal matter, it does not disappear; it continues in court. This is the reality with the P-Square case.

The case involving P-Square is one many Nigerians remember. Public interest first grew around reports that the once-celebrated music duo had been embroiled in internal disputes dating back to 2017, disputes that eventually led to their split. Years later, in 2025, the matter resurfaced forcefully in the public space when it became known that Jude Okoye had been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a seven-count charge bordering on ₦1.38 billion in alleged money laundering, according to PUNCH.

Since then, like many criminal cases, it has progressed quietly through appearances, testimonies, and adjournments, largely outside public view.

Justice is a process guided by procedure, and it often moves slowly because those rules exist to protect all parties involved. Yet when a case drags on unnecessarily, the delay itself becomes a form of injustice.

Section 36(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) guarantees anyone charged with a criminal offence the right to a fair hearing within a reasonable time. This is more than legal phrasing; it is a promise rooted in our shared humanity. Prolonged cases carry real consequences: the accused remains trapped under public suspicion, families endure ongoing uncertainty, and public trust in the justice system steadily erodes.

Of course, delay is not always deliberate. Our courts are overburdened, and procedural matters are important. But human rights exist to draw a clear line: time must not become punishment, and delay must not become a quiet form of harm.

A criminal trial is intended to determine guilt or innocence, not to punish someone through protracted delay. But when a case drags on without clear progress, time begins to do what the law never intended: it starts to feel like a sentence, long before any verdict is reached.

The P-square matter is not the only one of its kind. It reflects a pattern we see too often. Many criminal cases in Nigeria remain in court for extended periods before they are finally concluded. And when a matter takes that long, it naturally puts people’s lives on hold until there is a clear outcome.

Public attention comes and goes, but the lives affected by a criminal case remain. That is why speedy trials matter because they protect dignity, certainty, and trust in the system, not just for the accused, but for society as a whole.