LAGOS — The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, on Friday, May 16, 2025, presented Peter Obumuneme Okoye (aka Mr P) as its first prosecution witness in the ongoing fraud trial against Jude Chigozie Okoye, the former manager and elder brother of music duo P-Square.
Mr P gave his testimony before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja. Jude Okoye is being tried alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd, on a four-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of royalties amounting to $1 million and £34,537.
According to a statement on the Commission’s official Facebook page, Mr P revealed that his petition to the EFCC was submitted on January 22, 2024, after investigations showed that Jude’s wife, Ifeoma, owns 80% of Northside Music Ltd, while Jude holds 20%.
“I never contacted Paul or Jude until EFCC asked if my brother was involved. I told them I didn’t know. The Commission later found over 47 bank accounts used by Jude to receive royalties,” Peter said.
He added that Jude admitted to the crime during the course of investigations and that during a meeting at the EFCC office, Paul (his twin brother) told him Jude owns 40% of the P-Square brand, while Peter and Paul own 30% each.
Mr P noted he was unaware when Northside Music Ltd was registered, stating that the company operated for two years prior to P-Square’s split in 2017, and it was registered without his knowledge.
Earlier in his testimony, Mr P detailed how he and Paul began their career in 1999, and co-founded Northside Entertainment Ltd between 2005 and 2006, where all three brothers were shareholders. However, Jude was the sole signatory to the company’s accounts across Eco Bank, FCMB, and Zenith Bank.
After P-Square’s split in September 2017, Peter said he went solo as Mr P and hired a new manager. When the group reunited in 2021, he discovered that Jude had been managing a similarly named company—Northside Music—which led to concerns over royalty payments.
“During a tour in London, some investors approached us to purchase our music catalog. But they needed access to our back-end data. I later discovered Jude had tampered with it, causing over seven companies to back out,” he said.
The EFCC tendered Mr P’s petition dated January 22, 2024, with no objection from the defence counsel, Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN.
The court has adjourned the matter to May 23, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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