Nigerian music star, Peter Obumuneme Okoye, on Monday, April 14, 2025, appeared before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, to testify against his elder brother and former Manager of the defunct P-Square group, Jude Chigozie Okoye.
Jude is currently standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving the sum of N1.38 billion.
During the hearing, Peter, who appeared as the first prosecution witness (PW1) presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), recounted several financial irregularities and lack of transparency he experienced under Jude’s management.
According to the EFCC, one of the charges against Jude reads: “That you, Jude Okoye Chigozie and Northside Music Limited, sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth N850,000,000.00, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful acts…”
Jude had earlier pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment on February 26, 2025.
Led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Peter narrated how P-Square was formed in 1997 and disbanded in 2017, only to reunite in 2021. He told the court that before Jude became their manager, they had been managed by several others, including the late Bayo Odusami of Mbuntu Music.
Peter detailed the management structure under Jude, revealing that Jude was the sole signatory to P-Square’s accounts with banks like Ecobank, Zenith Bank, and FCMB. He said he had no access to the group’s financial records and raised concerns about transparency and accountability.
He also described a scenario where funding for his personal house project in Ikoyi was stopped without explanation, leading to tensions between the brothers. When he confronted Jude and Paul (his twin brother), he was allegedly told: “As you leave P-Square, you leave the money.”
According to Peter, efforts to get account statements from the banks were blocked by Jude, who reportedly instructed the account officers not to release any information. He added that even when interested buyers requested the financial records of P-Square’s music catalogue, he was denied access to the backend data.
Peter further told the court that he only became aware of a separate company, Northside Music Limited, in 2022, which he discovered was registered with Jude’s wife holding an 80% stake and Jude the remaining 20%. This company was allegedly receiving revenues generated from P-Square’s music catalogue without his knowledge.
He revealed that the data sent to him was incomplete and appeared to have been manipulated, resulting in a significant drop in the catalogue’s valuation—from an $8,000 offer to less than $500.
Frustrated by the continued denial of access and suspected financial impropriety, Peter said he eventually approached his lawyer, Afolabi, who then took the matter to the EFCC.
The court has adjourned the matter to June 4, 2025, for cross-examination.
