In a shocking twist of family drama and finance, music star Peter Okoye, one-half of the iconic duo P-Square, took the witness stand on Monday, testifying against his elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, in a money laundering case involving over ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
The courtroom buzzed with tension as Peter, visibly composed but resolute, laid bare the painful details of the alleged betrayal that went beyond music — and deep into money, power, and control.
The trial, held before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos, follows a petition filed by Peter himself, accusing Jude and his company, Northside Music Limited, of financial mismanagement and misappropriation of group funds during and after P-Square’s breakup.
One of the key allegations? That Jude, in 2022, used group earnings to acquire a luxury property in Ikoyi valued at ₦850 million, a move the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) claims is linked to illicit funds.
“He’s my elder brother… and he was our manager,” Peter said solemnly. “But he was also the sole signatory to all our accounts — Ecobank, Zenith, FCMB. At some point, I had no access to any money. None.”
Peter detailed how the group’s financial dealings were solely controlled by Jude during their years of success, leading to deep internal friction — and ultimately, the group’s breakup in 2017. After a five-year hiatus, P-Square reunited in late 2021, but by then, according to Peter, the damage had already been done.
He recalled how, during a joint real estate project in Ikoyi, the financing of his house was suddenly cut off — allegedly because he had “left the group.” With no access to bank accounts or backend revenue, Peter sought help from their lawyer, Festus Keyamo, SAN, who advised a revenue-sharing agreement. But even that, Peter claimed, was never honored.
“There was no transparency. No backend. No statements. Just excuses,” he told the court.
He further testified that in 2022, during negotiations with potential buyers of their music catalogue, he discovered a separate company — Northside Music Ltd — had been funneling group revenues, without his or Paul’s knowledge.
When Peter pushed for answers, he said Jude gave evasive responses, once telling him his share of the money was “with some people in South Africa.”
“I wasn’t even asking for money. I wanted transparency. I wanted the backend. I wanted the truth,” Peter told the court.
Jude has since denied all charges and pleaded not guilty to the seven-count indictment.
The trial continues — but so does the unraveling of one of Afrobeats’ most successful music families.
