In a Lagos Federal High Court, musician Peter Okoye, part of the now-defunct duo P-Square, admitted that his elder brother, Jude Okoye, provided him with six years’ worth of royalty records covering the period from 2016 to 2022. This revelation came during cross-examination by Jude’s attorney, Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, in a case involving Jude and his company, Northside Music Limited, concerning allegations of financial misconduct.
Initially, Peter claimed that Jude had taken over three months to supply him with the requested records in 2022. However, under questioning by Justice Alexander Owoeye, he was challenged with evidence indicating that he requested the documents on October 16, 2022, and that Jude sent them just six days later, on October 22. Although Peter contested this timeline, he admitted that he could not produce any evidence to support his earlier claim, stating, “No. I don’t have any and I can’t recall.”
Peter confirmed the receipt of the royalty report, which included details from 2016 to 2022 and specifically referenced Lex Records. He further explained that the request for these records was influenced by potential interest from buyers in the P-Square music catalog. Additionally, it was noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was aware that Jude had sent him the reports.
During the proceedings, focus shifted to royalties received from SACEM, a French music rights organization. Peter revealed that he received close to $800,000 in SACEM royalties from 2016 to 2026, yet he did not share any of this with Jude. When asked if he had informed Jude about these payments, Peter replied, “No, the money was for the artists,” asserting that the royalties were solely theirs to manage.
Although Peter admitted that Jude signed the SACEM contract, he stressed that it was representative of the team’s operations rather than for Jude’s personal benefit. He acknowledged that the ten songs earning royalties from SACEM were indeed P-Square’s works, yet he clarified Jude’s role by stating, “Jude is not part of P-Square,” despite recognizing Jude’s involvement in directing some of their music videos.
Peter also stated that he had previously distributed a portion of his SACEM share to Jude but refuted any claims that Jude had demanded ongoing payments from him since their reconciliation in 2022. Peter explained that there was no formal employment agreement with Jude, citing their relationship as linked through Northside Entertainment Limited. Jude and Northside Music Limited are currently facing a seven-count charge from the EFCC regarding alleged financial crimes amounting to N1.3 billion and $1 million, to which Jude has pleaded not guilty. The next court session is scheduled for December 8 and 9, 2026.
