Peter Okoye’s ₦1.3bn fraud case: How $800,000 in SACEM royalties brought a fresh twist to the dispute with Jude

The long-running financial dispute between P-Square brothers Peter and Jude Okoye took another turn on Monday, September 21, 2026. The case is regarding the ongoing trial of Jude and his company, Northside Music Limited, over allegations brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The latest proceedings brought the brothers’ disagreement over P-Square’s music royalties back into focus, with questions raised about who was entitled to the money, Jude’s role in the group’s business and how royalty records were handled.

Jude has pleaded not guilty to the charges, meaning the allegations against him remain to be determined by the court.

How The ₦1.3bn Case Started

Peter Okoye

The case dates back to a financial dispute that followed the breakdown of P-Square’s relationship and Peter’s concerns about the management of the group’s finances.

In February 2025, the EFCC arraigned Jude and Northside Music Limited before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos on a seven-count charge involving alleged money laundering of about ₦1.38 billion, $1 million and £34,537.59.

The allegations included claims that Jude and his company acquired an Ikoyi property valued at ₦850 million with funds the EFCC alleged were proceeds of unlawful activity.

Another count alleged that more than $1 million was converted through a bureau de change and transferred into various Nigerian bank accounts in a manner the EFCC described as an attempt to conceal the source of the funds.

Jude pleaded not guilty to the charges. Peter later appeared as a prosecution witness. During his testimony in April 2025, he accused Jude of secretly incorporating Northside Music Limited to collect and control P-Square royalties without the knowledge or consent of the group’s members.

Peter told the court that P-Square had separated around 2017 before reuniting in November 2021. He alleged that during the period of separation, he lost access to the group’s bank accounts and later discovered the existence of Northside Music Limited.

He also told the court that the company’s records showed Jude’s wife as holding a significant shareholding in the company. These were allegations made by Peter during his testimony and are being contested in the ongoing proceedings.

The Case Returned To P-Square’s Royalties

Psquare

The latest hearing on Monday, September 21, 2026 shifted attention from the broader financial allegations to the royalties generated by P-Square’s music. At the centre of the testimony was SACEM, the French organisation that collects and distributes royalties to songwriters, composers and music publishers.

During cross-examination by Jude’s lawyer, Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, Peter confirmed that he had received approximately $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026. The money was connected to P-Square songs, but Peter also confirmed that Jude did not receive any part of the money.

When asked whether he informed Jude about the payments, Peter answered:

“No, the money was for the artistes.”

That admission became one of the major points from Monday’s proceedings. Peter maintained that the royalties belonged to him and his twin brother, Paul Okoye, because they were the artistes behind the songs.

Why Peter Said Jude Was Not Entitled To The Money

The defence also questioned Peter about the SACEM agreement itself. Peter acknowledged that Jude had signed the SACEM contract, rather than Peter or Paul.

However, Peter maintained that Jude signed it on behalf of “the team” and disputed the idea that the agreement made Jude entitled to the royalties. Peter also told the court that the 10 songs connected to the SACEM payments were P-Square songs. When asked about Jude’s role in the group, Peter said:

“Jude is not part of P-Square.”

Peter maintained that he and Paul composed, wrote and produced P-Square’s songs, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of the group’s music videos.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls Jude had served as P-Square’s manager during the height of the group’s career, while Peter’s testimony focused on the difference between being the group’s manager and being one of its artistes.

Peter Previously Paid Jude A Share

The latest testimony also revealed that the royalty arrangement between the brothers had not always been as straightforward. Peter confirmed that he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his SACEM share.

However, he disputed the claim that Jude was entitled to continue receiving quarterly payments after their reconciliation in 2022. That exchange placed the $800,000 admission within a much longer disagreement over the brothers’ respective roles in P-Square’s music business.

The Dispute Over Royalty Records

Jude Okoye

Another significant part of Monday’s proceedings involved P-Square’s backend royalty records. Peter had previously claimed that Jude took more than three months to provide him with the records after he requested them in 2022.

Jude’s lawyer challenged that account in court, saying Peter had requested the records on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and sent them to him just six days later, on October 22.

Peter maintained that he had made the request earlier in 2022. But when asked to produce a text message, email or other document showing that earlier request, he admitted:

“No. I don’t have any and I can’t recall.”

Peter nevertheless confirmed that he received the royalty report from Jude. He also acknowledged that the report covered royalties from 2016 to 2022, including records connected to Lex Records.

According to Peter, the reason he requested the information was because some people were interested in buying the P-Square music catalogue. He further confirmed that Jude had sent him account information in 2022 and that the EFCC was aware that the royalty report had been forwarded to him.

What Happened To The $800,000?

The biggest new question from the latest hearing is therefore not simply whether Peter received the SACEM royalties. He has now acknowledged that he did.

The point of disagreement is who was entitled to the money. Peter’s position, as presented in court, is that the money belonged to the artistes, that’s himself and Paul and that Jude was not entitled to a share simply because he had managed P-Square or signed the SACEM agreement. His testimony also established that he did not tell Jude about the payments.

For Jude’s defence, however, the evidence concerning the SACEM agreement, the royalty records and Jude’s involvement in the group’s business forms part of the broader challenge to the allegations against him.

The court will ultimately have to determine the legal significance of the evidence presented by both sides.

A Separate Financial Dispute Has Already Surfaced

The latest development also comes against the backdrop of a separate legal battle involving the brothers.

In another case before the Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Jude and Northside Music Limited faced allegations relating to more than $1 million in royalties. Peter had previously petitioned the EFCC over alleged financial misconduct involving the P-Square brand.

In December 2025, the EFCC told the Ikeja court that it did not have evidence to support Peter’s allegation that Jude and Paul had fraudulently withdrawn $800,000.

That separate proceeding is important context because the latest SACEM revelation involves Peter’s receipt of $800,000, rather than the earlier allegation concerning an alleged fraudulent withdrawal of $800,000.

The two figures should therefore not be treated as the same transaction.

What Happens Next?

The Federal High Court case involving Jude and Northside Music Limited is still ongoing. Jude has pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge, and the allegations against him have not been established by a final judgment.
Peter’s latest testimony has nevertheless added a new layer to the financial dispute between the brothers.

For the first time in the current proceedings, the court heard Peter directly acknowledge receiving about $800,000 in SACEM royalties from P-Square’s music, while also explaining why he believed Jude was not entitled to any part of the money.

The case has now been adjourned to December 8 and 9, 2026, when the proceedings are expected to continue.

The latest hearing has therefore brought the dispute back to one of the issues at the heart of the long-running P-Square fallout: who controlled the group’s music earnings, who was entitled to them and what role each Okoye brother played in the business behind the music.

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