The bitter legal fight between Peter Okoye, one half of the famous music group P-Square, and his older brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, has been making headlines.
Recently the legal counsel for Jude Okoye dropped a bomb, claiming Peter Okoye lied about education, royalties, bank access–Defence lawyer
The case itself is all about claims of stolen money, hidden earnings, and bad management of the group’s funds. This ongoing court case has really shined a light on the deep-seated business and personal problems that ultimately tore the hugely popular P-Square apart for good.
How the P-Square Mess Started
At the heart of this big disagreement are Peter Okoye’s claims that Jude Okoye, while he was managing P-Square, secretly set up a company called Northside Music Limited. Peter says Jude used this company to secretly funnel away the group’s music earnings (royalties) and control all their money without Peter’s knowledge or permission.
Peter insists he was completely shut out of financial decisions and couldn’t even access the group’s bank accounts, which Jude supposedly managed alone. He even pointed out that Jude and his wife were listed as directors of Northside Music, with his wife owning 80% and Jude 20% of the shares, all while Peter and Paul (the other half of P-Square) had no idea the company even existed or what it was doing.
Peter also claimed that the information about their royalty payments was messed with, leading to them getting paid less than they should have and missing out on other money-making opportunities. He said Jude refused to show him detailed financial reports and that he noticed strange drops in their monthly payments from companies like Lex Records that handled their music distribution.
Taking The P-Square Issue to Court
Peter Okoye officially reported Jude Okoye to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in August 2024, accusing him of financial wrongdoing and diverting royalties. This report kicked off the EFCC’s investigation and led to Jude Okoye eventually facing charges.
Jude Okoye Goes to Court
In early 2025, the EFCC brought Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, to court, charging them with fraud and money laundering. The specific accusations include:
- Stealing Money: Claims that Jude and his company illegally took large sums of money belonging to Peter. This came from their digital music earnings. This includes over $767,000, more than $1 million, and over £34,000.
- Secret Company and Hidden Earnings: Accusations that Jude secretly started Northside Music Limited to collect and control P-Square’s earnings. This being done without permission from Peter and Paul.
- Buying Property with Illegal Money: An accusation that Jude and Northside Music Ltd bought a piece of land in Ikoyi, Lagos. The land is worth N850 million (about $560,000 USD), using money believed to be from illegal activities.
- Laundering Money through Exchange Bureaus: Claims of converting over $1 million through a money exchange service and then moving that money to various Nigerian bank accounts to hide its origin.
Jude Okoye has denied all these charges.
Peter Okoye Speaks Out in Court
Peter Okoye was the first person to speak for the prosecution in court. He repeated his claims, explaining how he was locked out of the group’s finances. He also revealed how he supposedly uncovered Jude’s illegal activities. Peter Okoye revealed his financial suspicions after P-Square first broke up in 2017 and then got back together in 2021. He also stated that he found out about Northside Music Limited after checking the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) website.
Jude’s Lawyers Fight Back
During the questioning by Jude Okoye’s lawyer, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), things got heated. The defense strongly accused Peter of lying to the EFCC and giving inconsistent information. Jude’s lawyers showed evidence to challenge Peter’s story, including:
- Bank Authorizations: They presented a document showing that Jude was a primary signatory on the company’s accounts. Both Peter and Paul were secondary signatories. This suggests they did have access to financial dealings, which goes against Peter’s claim that he had no access.
- Direct Payments and Withdrawals: Bank statements proved Peter himself withdrew large sums of money from the company’s account. The withdrawals were in both naira and dollars. It also showed that Jude also sent him money directly many times.
- Mad Solutions Agreement: The defense confirmed that the contract with Mad Solutions (for royalty payments) was signed by all three brothers.
- It also —Jude, Peter, and Paul—and that each was equally entitled to the royalty payments. This contradicted Peter’s claim that he only received small amounts.
- Schooling Background: The defense tried to undermine Peter’s earlier statement to the EFCC that he was a graduate of the University of Abuja, revealing that he had actually dropped out. Peter reportedly admitted in court that he hadn’t finished his studies.
Paul Okoye’s Position
Interestingly, Paul Okoye, Peter’s twin brother, has publicly supported Jude Okoye. He even celebrated when Jude was released from EFCC custody. Paul has also accused Peter of being the reason for Jude’s legal problems and arrest. He also claimed that Jude owns a 40% share of P-Square, with Peter and Paul owning 30% each, a claim Peter disputes.
What’s Happening Now and What’s Next For P-Square
The trial is still ongoing. The next court dates are set for October 10 and 17, 2025, to continue the proceedings after Peter’s questioning. Jude Okoye was released on bail after paying N50 million (about $33,000 USD). He was also mandated to provide two people to guarantee he’d show up for court. In addition, he also had to hand over his Nigerian and St. Kitts & Nevis passports. This is because having dual citizenship was seen as a risk that he might try to leave the country.
This lawsuit highlights the complexities of managing a successful music career when family is involved. This is particularly concerning financial transparency and accountability. The court proceedings so far have uncovered conflicting accounts and evidence, making the outcome of the case difficult to foresee. The case continues to grab a lot of attention from the public because of P-Square’s huge popularity. It also is popular because of the serious nature of the accusations against their former manager.
In the next part of this write-up, we shall see how Nigerians are divided in their reaction to the saga. We shall also note how these developments affect each brother’s career, and how Nigerians will learn from this mess. Till then, continue to stick with Trickle Media for the best in entertainment news, gists, and gossips.
