During his virtual testimony before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos, singer Peter Okoye admitted under cross-examination that he received about $800,000 in royalties from the French rights body SACEM for P-Square’s music catalogue, but he did not pass any of it to his estranged elder brother, Jude Okoye, insisting the money “was for the artists.” Jude and his company, Northside Music Limited, are facing seven counts of fraud totalling ₦1.3 billion and $1 million; he has entered a not guilty plea.
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Peter told the court the SACEM payments, covering P-Square songs from 2016 through 2022, belonged solely to him and his twin brother, Paul, arguing that Jude was never formally part of the group — despite acknowledging Jude directed several of the group’s music videos. Pressed on why he never informed Jude of the payments, Peter maintained the funds were meant for the performing artistes alone.
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Defence counsel also contested Peter’s earlier allegation that Jude had taken more than three months to deliver P-Square’s backend royalty records following a request in 2022. When confronted with documentation demonstrating that the records were requested on October 16, 2022, and delivered just six days later, Peter insisted he had made an earlier, undocumented request, but he acknowledged he had no proof and “can’t recall” the specifics. The SACEM contract itself was signed by “the team,” of which Jude was not a member.
The case is part of a long-running dispute stretching back to Peter’s original 2025 petition to the EFCC, in which he alleged Jude had used Northside Music Limited to control P-Square’s royalties without his knowledge. The court has adjourned further hearing to December 8 and 9, 2026.
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