Peter Okoye talks about receiving $800,000 in P-Square royalties

Singer Peter Okoye of the defunct music group P-Square has admitted receiving more than $800,000 in royalties from the French music rights organisation, SACEM, for songs recorded by the group.

Okoye made the admission while testifying virtually before Justice Alexander Owoeye of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

He was questioned by Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, lawyer for his elder brother, Jude Okoye, who is facing fraud charges filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, are facing a seven-count indictment involving alleged $1.3 billion and $1 million fraud. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Registers of disputed copyrights

During the resumed hearing, Peter was questioned about his previous testimony that Jude took more than three months to provide him with P-Square’s royalty records after requesting them in 2022.

The lawyer told him that the request was submitted on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and forwarded the documents six days later, on October 22.

Peter disagrees, claiming he filed the request in early 2022.

However, when asked to produce a text message, email or other documentary evidence proving he had made the request before October 16, he admitted he could not do so.

“No. I don’t have any and I can’t remember,” he told the court.

The singer also confirmed that he had received the royalty report sent by Jude which covered royalties earned between 2016 and 2022, including records related to Lex Records.

Peter explained that he requested the report because some people were interested in acquiring P-Square’s music catalog.

SACEM payments

Peter acknowledged that Jude had forwarded the account information to him in 2022 and that the EFCC was aware of the report sent to him.

However, he contested Jude’s right to royalties paid through SACEM, claiming that the payments belonged to him and his twin brother, Paul Okoye.

When the lawyer pointed out that the SACEM contract had been signed by Jude rather than Peter or Paul, Peter argued that the agreement had been signed “by the team”.

He insisted that Jude was not part of P-Square, despite his involvement in some aspects of the group’s activities.

Peter also acknowledged that he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his SACEM share, but denied that Jude had requested quarterly payments following royalty reconciliation in 2022.

During cross-examination, Peter was confronted with claims that he received approximately $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026.

He admitted receiving the money but claimed the funds were for the artists.

When asked if he had informed Jude of the payments, Peter replied: “No, the money was for the artists.”

Jude’s role in P-Square

The singer was also asked about Jude’s role as P-Square’s manager.

Peter said he did not have an employment contract with his brother, explaining that their agreement was through Northside Entertainment Limited.

When asked if Jude was a member of P-Square, Peter replied: “Jude is not part of P-Square.”

He claimed that all of P-Square’s songs were composed, written and produced by him and Paul, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of the group’s music videos.

The court postponed further hearing of the case to December 8 and 9, 2026.