Peter Okoye Testifies: Accuses Brother Jude of Diverting P-Square Royalties

Peter Okoye, one half of the iconic Nigerian music duo P-Square, took the stand at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday, 14th April — and his testimony dropped some serious bombshells.

Peter revealed that their older brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, allegedly set up a new company behind their backs, using it to funnel royalties owed to the group into private accounts. The company, Northside Music Ltd, was reportedly registered in Jude’s wife’s name, and Peter claims neither he nor his twin brother Paul Okoye were ever informed.

A Shocking Discovery

Peter explained that the new company’s name — Northside Music Ltd — was strikingly similar to their original label, Northside Entertainment Ltd, which they all once used to handle the group’s business. But the new one had only Jude and his wife listed as directors, with her holding 80% ownership.

“I found out Jude had incorporated another company, Northside Music Ltd similar to our original Northside Entertainment Ltd and he was using it to collect our royalties,” Peter said. “I wasn’t even aware this new company existed.”

Control and Access Issues

Peter said that after P-Square broke up in 2017 and later reconciled in 2021, he noticed things weren’t adding up financially. Jude had been the sole signatory to all group accounts, including those at Zenith Bank, Ecobank, and FCMB.

“I couldn’t even buy a phone without Jude’s permission,” he told the court.

Things got messier when a company wanted to acquire their album catalog. Peter realized he had no access to the digital platforms where their earnings came from — places like YouTube and iTunes. When he asked for the details, Jude allegedly refused to provide them.

Even when Peter reached out to Paul, his twin brother reportedly said, “You know I don’t know anything about that… but Jude…”

Missing Money and Hidden Accounts

Peter also testified that when he asked Jude where the money was, Jude said it was “with people in South Africa.” But Peter insists he wasn’t chasing money — just transparency and access to what was rightfully theirs.

He went on to share how Jude controlled the group’s finances, even cutting off funding for Peter’s Ikoyi house project after the group split. Their lawyer at the time, Festus Keyamo (SAN) — now the Minister of Aviation — advised setting up a clear financial structure, but Peter said things only got worse from there.

A New Label, New Deals… But Old Problems

When Peter finally got to hand their catalog over to a new distributor, Mad Solutions, he started seeing results. In just three months, he earned over $22,000. But by then, much damage had already been done.

“The original catalog’s backend had been tampered with,” Peter said. “People who initially offered us $8,000 were now offering only $500.”

Peter claimed he had never heard of Northside Music until he looked it up on the CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) website. That’s when he discovered Jude and his wife were the only shareholders.

The Legal Fallout

It didn’t stop there. A tax official reportedly told Peter that Jude owed only about N2 million in taxes — a claim Peter found suspicious. When he reviewed Access Bank statements from 2017, he saw continuous inflows from aggregators, suggesting the group had still been earning despite the breakup.

After gathering all the evidence, Peter reached out to his lawyer, Afolabi, who filed a formal petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Now, Jude Okoye and Northside Music Ltd are facing a seven-count charge from the EFCC, involving alleged money laundering of over ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.

What’s Next?

The court has adjourned the case until 4th June 2025, when cross-examination is set to continue.