Peter Okoye Testifies Against Brother Jude, Alleges N1.3bn Diversion
Music star Peter Okoye of the iconic duo P-Square testified in court on Monday, April 14, detailing how his elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, allegedly diverted over ₦1.3 billion in royalties through a secretly registered company.
Testifying before the Federal High Court in Lagos as the first prosecution witness in a case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Peter alleged that Jude incorporated a new entity, Northside Music Ltd, in his wife’s name—without the knowledge or consent of Peter or his twin brother, Paul Okoye.
The company, strikingly similar in name to their original joint venture, Northside Entertainment Ltd, was allegedly used to collect royalties belonging to the defunct group, P-Square.
Jude Okoye is facing a seven-count charge of alleged money laundering involving ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
One charge involves the purchase of a property in Ikoyi worth ₦850 million, which the EFCC claims was acquired with proceeds of crime. He pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on February 26, 2025.
In his testimony, Peter claimed he and Paul were unaware of Northside Music Ltd until 2022, when financial discrepancies and royalty payment issues began to surface.
He said, “Jude and his wife are the only directors—she holds 80 percent, he owns 20 percent. This company was collecting our royalties without our knowledge.”
Peter recounted years of limited access to finances and control, saying Jude was the sole signatory to all their major bank accounts, including Zenith, Ecobank, and FCMB.
“I couldn’t even buy a phone without Jude’s approval,” he told the court, adding that the financial control became more apparent after the group’s breakup in 2017 and reunion in 2021.
He explained how his suspicions intensified when a buyer interested in their album catalogue requested backend data, which Jude allegedly refused to provide.
Peter’s independent checks with digital platforms and aggregators confirmed his fears—his access was blocked and the digital records had been altered.
He testified that after redirecting the catalogue to a new aggregator, Mad Solutions, he received over $22,000 in three months, validating his concerns. “This shows that revenue was being earned but not reported to us,” he said.
Peter also revealed that tax irregularities were discovered during the probe, including underreporting of earnings. “A tax official said we hadn’t been performing, but when I reviewed our Access Bank account for 2017, there were multiple transactions from aggregators,” he said.
The revelations led Peter to contact his lawyer, who then filed a formal petition with the EFCC, prompting the current legal action.
The trial has been adjourned to June 4, 2025, for cross-examination.
Peter Okoye Testifies Against Brother Jude, Alleges N1.3bn Diversion
