The long-simmering tension within the Okoye family reached a dramatic new height on Monday, as Peter Okoye, one half of the iconic defunct group P-Square, took the witness stand against his elder brother and former manager Jude Okoye at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Jude, along with his company Northside Music Limited, is facing seven counts of money launderingcharges, involving a staggering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59 — in a case brought forward by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) based on a petition filed by Peter.
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“As You Leave P-Square, You Leave the Money” – Peter Tells Court
In a gripping testimony led by EFCC counsel Aso Larry, Peter described how Jude allegedly diverted the group’s royalty earnings using a separate company—Northside Music Ltd, without informing Peter or his twin, Paul Okoye.
“Sometimes in 2017, the group P-Square was disbanded. We were apart for nearly five years. In November 2021, the group came back,” Peter said, recounting the turbulent history.
He revealed that problems began when Jude became the sole signatory to P-Square’s accounts with Ecobank, Zenith, and FCMB. One specific incident involved the sudden halt of funding for Peter’s personal house project in Ikoyi, allegedly controlled by funds from Northside Entertainment Ltd.
When questioned, Peter said Jude and Paul told him plainly:
“As you leave P-Square, you leave the money.”
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Hidden Company, Manipulated Figures & Streaming Revenue
Peter disclosed that in 2022, while negotiating a deal to sell the group’s music catalog, he discovered a previously unknown entity, Northside Music Ltd, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The company was owned by Jude and his wife (80% and 20% shareholding respectively).
He also claimed that Jude denied him access to streaming revenue backend data from aggregators and that the figures he eventually retrieved were manipulated.
“The people who initially wanted to pay $8,000 later offered $500, saying the backend had been tampered with,” Peter testified.
Even when he contacted account officers at the group’s banks, Peter said they refused to release statements without a court order, with one officer allegedly admitting that Jude instructed them not to send anything to Peter.
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Tax Consultant, Denials & Alleged Money Laundering
Peter also recounted a visit from a tax consultant named Emmanuel, who claimed Jude had reported that no performances or group activity had occurred since their 2017 breakup — a claim Peter countered using bank statements showing continued royalty deposits.
According to the EFCC, Jude allegedly:
• Acquired a property worth N850 million in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, using suspected laundered funds.
• Converted over $1 million through a Bureau De Change, moving funds across bank accounts to disguise their origins.
Jude pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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What’s Next?
The presiding judge, Justice Owoeye, has adjourned the case to June 4 for cross-examination.
With Nigeria’s music royalty watching closely, this high-stakes legal battle could redefine how the industry views group management, transparency, and family-business boundaries.
#Psquare #PeterOkoye #JudeOkoye #EFCC #MoneyLaundering #NorthsideMusic #NigerianMusic #EntertainmentNews
