Nigerian pop massive title Peter Okoye, one-half of the prolonged-lasting tune duo P-Sq., appeared earlier than the Federal High Court docket in Lagos on Monday to testify against his elder brother and aged supervisor, Jude Okoye, in a case involving alleged misappropriation of the community’s earnings.
Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Restricted, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on costs of money laundering involving ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
Presiding over the case is Justice Alexander Owoeye. The trial follows a petition filed by Peter, who alleges that Jude diverted P-Sq.’s royalties and controlled procure admission to to the community’s earnings with out transparency.
During his testimony, Peter told the court docket that Jude stale a separate entity—Northside Music Restricted—to secretly receive royalties on account of P-Sq., with out the information or consent of the duo.
“P-Sq. began round 1997 or 1998,” Peter recounted, adding that Jude joined as supervisor after earlier handlers, including Chioma Ugochi and the behind Bayo Odusami. “We later operated under Northside Entertainment.”
Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Aso Larry, Peter explained that even as P-Sq. rose to international reputation, Jude retained odd regulate over their financial accounts with banks including Ecobank, Zenith Financial institution, and FCMB.
“He was the suitable one licensed to withdraw money from the accounts,” Peter said. “Even when we beget been building properties in Ikoyi, I couldn’t procure admission to any funds. When I requested questions, I was told, ‘Whilst you’re leaving P-Sq., you’re leaving the money too.’”
The singer testified that objective efforts to resolve the battle, including intervention from their then-lawyer, Festus Keyamo (now Minister of Aviation), proved unsuccessful. Following the community’s 2017 breakup and 2021 reunion, Peter stumbled on extra irregularities.
In 2022, Peter uncovered the existence of Northside Music Restricted—distinct from Northside Entertainment—and realized that the corporate had been collecting P-Sq.’s royalties with out his or Paul Okoye’s consciousness.
Attempts to obtain banking information beget been reportedly blocked.
“Zenith Financial institution told me that Jude instructed them to no longer unlock any information to me,” Peter revealed.
He also disclosed that Jude and Paul later signed their tune catalog to a third-birthday celebration company, Indignant Solution. Peter finest received over $22,000 from that deal months later.
Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) documents revealed that Jude’s spouse owns 80% of Northside Music Restricted, while Jude holds the remaining 20%.
The trial continues as Peter and the EFCC scrutinize to prove that Jude stale the corporate as a vehicle to improperly regulate and motivate funds that rightfully belonged to the tune community.
