The long-running feud in the Okoye family, members of the famous Nigerian music group P-Square, has reached the courtroom.
Peter Okoye has taken legal action against his elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, accusing him of fraud. Justice A. Owoeye is hearing the matter at the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Through his lawyer, Afolabi I., Peter filed a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alleging that Jude, alongside his company Northside Music Limited, mismanaged funds totaling ₦1.38 billion.
EFCC charges Jude over money laundering
The EFCC confirmed that Jude Okoye is now standing trial on a seven-count charge. These charges relate to money laundering and fraud. Dele Oyewale, the agency’s head of media and publicity, revealed that one of the charges involves the acquisition of a property worth ₦850 million in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos. The EFCC claims the funds used were proceeds from illegal activities.
Jude has denied all allegations and pleaded not guilty when he was formally arraigned on February 26, 2025.
Peter tells his side of the story
In his testimony, Peter provided a timeline of P-Square’s journey, starting from 1997. He mentioned that the group separated in 2017 and later reunited in November 2021. Over the years, the group worked with various managers, including Chioma Ugochi during their school days and Bayo Odusami, who managed them for five years.
Eventually, Jude took over as their manager through Northside Entertainment Limited. Peter said issues started when Jude became the sole signatory to all their bank accounts, including those at Ecobank, Zenith Bank, and FCMB. He claimed that he had no access to the accounts, which created tension.
Legal advice sparked financial questions
Peter said it wasn’t until their former lawyer, Festus Keyamo (now Minister of Aviation), advised them to create a clear sharing formula that he realized the extent of the financial problems.
He also mentioned a disagreement that arose during the construction of their houses in Ikoyi. According to Peter, the group’s company, Northside Entertainment, suddenly stopped financing his house project without explanation. When he asked Jude and Paul (his twin brother), he was told, “As you leave P-Square, you leave the money.”
This response led Peter to seek legal advice again.
Discovery of a new company raises red flags
Peter later discovered another company, Northside Music Limited, which appeared to be a replica of their original business. He said he only found out about it in 2022 when buyers showed interest in purchasing their music catalogue. These buyers requested financial records, but Peter couldn’t provide them due to lack of access.
When he asked Jude for backend access to the music sales and revenue reports, Jude refused. Peter said he also turned to Paul for help, but Paul brushed it off, saying, “You know Jude handles all that.”
Music royalties and backend tampering
Eventually, Peter discovered that the aggregators—companies that track music streams and collect royalties—were also working with both his and Paul’s solo music projects. He asked Paul to allow him to hand over P-Square’s music catalogue to a new distributor, Mad Solutions. Within three months, Peter received over $22,000 in royalties.
However, he later discovered that the backend data had been altered. This tampering made the catalogue appear less valuable. One buyer, who had initially offered $8,000, dropped their offer to just $500 after reviewing the adjusted data.
Northside music ownership sparks more suspicion
Peter conducted a search on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website and found that Northside Music Limited was owned by Jude and his wife. She held an 80% stake, while Jude owned the remaining 20%. This discovery further fueled his suspicion that he was being sidelined from the group’s earnings.
He told the court that when he finally received a version of the catalogue from Jude, it only contained vague figures. The new distributor later confirmed that the numbers had been manipulated.
Tension between brothers reaches breaking point
Peter also shared an encounter where a potential investor visited him and asked Paul to join the discussion. Paul reportedly said, “I know Peter has told you this already,” and later added that he was tired of the drama. His final words to Peter were: “Do your worst.”
Peter concluded his testimony by stating that he later reviewed statements from their Access Bank account and confirmed that money paid by aggregators was indeed being deposited—without his knowledge or access.
Case ongoing as more revelations expected
The court case is still ongoing. As more witnesses and evidence are presented, the full scope of the alleged fraud involving Northside Music Limited may come to light. The drama surrounding one of Nigeria’s most beloved music groups appears far from over.
Read Also: Alleged N1.38bn fraud: Jude Okoye granted bail of N100m
