The long-running feud involving P-Square brothers Peter and Jude Okoye took a fresh turn on Monday as Peter revealed in court what happened to more than $800,000 in royalties paid over songs by the defunct music group.
Peter admitted receiving the money from the French copyright collection society, SACEM, but said he did not give his elder brother, Jude, any share of the payment.
The singer made the revelation while being cross-examined by Jude’s lawyer, Clement Onwueunor, SAN, before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Jude and his company, Northside Music Limited, are facing a seven-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraud involving N1.3 billion and $1 million.
Jude has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At Monday’s proceedings, Peter was questioned about royalty records relating to P-Square’s music catalogue and his earlier claim that Jude took more than three months to provide the group’s backend royalty records after he requested them in 2022.
Jude’s lawyer, however, told the court that Peter requested the records on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and sent them to him six days later, on October 22.
Peter disagreed, insisting that he had made the request earlier in the year.
But when asked to produce a text message, email or any other document showing that he had requested the records before October 16, he admitted that he had none and could not remember.
Peter subsequently 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.
Explaining why he requested the information, Peter said it was partly because some individuals were interested in buying the P-Square music catalogue.
The singer further confirmed that Jude had forwarded the account information to him in 2022 and that the EFCC was aware the report had been sent to him.
However, Peter disputed Jude’s entitlement to royalties paid through SACEM, maintaining that the money belonged to him and his twin brother, Paul.
The court was told that the SACEM agreement had been signed by Jude rather than Peter or Paul.
Peter, however, insisted that the agreement was signed by “the team” and maintained that Jude was not part of P-Square.
He also confirmed that the 10 songs for which SACEM paid royalties were P-Square songs.
When confronted with the claim that he received approximately $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026, Peter admitted receiving the money.
But he said none of it was given to Jude because the money was meant for the artistes.
Asked if he informed Jude about the payments, Peter replied: “No, the money was for the artists.”
Peter also confirmed that he had previously paid Jude one-quarter of his SACEM share but denied that his elder brother demanded quarterly payments after their reconciliation in 2022.
The cross-examination also turned to Jude’s role in the P-Square business.
Asked what he paid Jude as the group’s manager, Peter said he had no employment contract with his elder brother, explaining that the arrangement was through Northside Entertainment Limited.
And when asked whether Jude was part of P-Square, Peter was categorical.
“Jude is not part of P-Square,” he told the court.
Peter maintained that he and Paul composed, wrote and produced all the group’s songs, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of P-Square’s music videos.
The latest testimony adds another twist to the bitter dispute surrounding the former music partners and the financial affairs of P-Square.
The case has been adjourned until December 8 and 9, 2026, for continuation.
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