“I Discovered a Secret Company Owned by Jude and His Wife” – Peter Okoye Testifies in N1.3bn Fraud Case

Peter Okoye, one half of the famed music duo P-Square, told a Lagos Federal High Court on Monday that he uncovered a secret company—Northside Music Limited—allegedly used by his elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, to divert group funds. The revelation came during Peter’s testimony as the first prosecution witness in the N1.38 billion money laundering trial filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Jude and the said company.

Jude, who managed P-Square for several years, is facing a seven-count charge alongside Northside Music Limited before Justice A. Owoeye. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his arraignment in February.

Peter recounted years of financial disputes with Jude, claiming that the manager had exclusive control over all the group’s accounts in Ecobank, Zenith Bank, and FCMB, and consistently blocked access to financial records. “The issues were mainly about the fact that he was the sole signatory to all our bank accounts,” he said.

He testified that he only learned about Northside Music Limited in 2022 when prospective buyers of their music catalogue requested financial statements to evaluate the deal. Upon further investigation, Peter said he found that the company—similar in name to their official outfit Northside Entertainment Limited—was registered under Jude and his wife, with her holding an 80% share. “I went to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) site, and discovered that the directors of Northside Music were Jude Okoye and his wife,” he told the court.

Peter also accused Jude of tampering with backend data, making it difficult to determine the true value of their music assets. He said buyers pulled out of negotiations after noticing discrepancies in the revenue figures.

The testimony further alleged that both Jude and Paul Okoye, his twin brother, failed to provide clear answers when he demanded transparency. “When I approached Jude again, he told me that my share of the money was with some people in South Africa. I told him I was not asking for money, but the backend and the statements of the account. But there was no positive response,” Peter said.

He added that even account officers at their banks refused to share statements without a court order, citing instructions from Jude. Frustrated by the lack of cooperation, Peter said he sought legal counsel and ultimately reported the matter to the EFCC.

The case has been adjourned to June 4, 2025, for cross-examination.