Singer Peter Okoye of the defunct music group, P-Square, has confirmed receiving over $800,000 USD from SACEM as royalties from the musical works of the P-Square group, but never gave his elder brother Jude his share of the royalties.
Peter made the above assertions before Justice Alexander Owoeye of a Federal High Court, Lagos, while being cross-examined by Mr. Clement Onwuewunor (SAN) lawyer to his brother, Jude Okoye.
SACEM is a French professional association that collects music royalties and distributes them to songwriters, composers, and publishers.
Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, are being tried before the court on allegations of N1.3 billion and $1 million fraud, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Jude had pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge made against him and his company.
At the resumed hearing of the matter today, Peter who was cross examined virtually, was questioned about his earlier claim that it took Jude over three months to send P-Square’s backend royalty records to him when he requested it in 2022.
But when Jude’s counsel told him that he requested the records on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and sent them to him six days later, on October 22. Peter disagreed, and insisted that he had made the request earlier in 2022.
However, when asked to produce a text message, email or document showing that he had made the request before October 16, 2022, Peter admitted: “No. I don’t have any and I can’t recall.”
Peter further confirmed that he received the royalty report sent by Jude. And also acknowledged that the report covered royalties from 2016 through 2022, including records relating to Lex Records.
Explaining why the report was requested, the singer said it was connected to people who were interested in buying the P-Square music catalogue.
Peter also admitted that Jude had forwarded the account information to him in 2022 and that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was aware that the report had been sent to him. But disputed Jude’s entitlement to royalties paid through SACEM, saying that the payments belonged to him and his twin brother, Paul.
When being questioned that the SACEM contract was signed by Jude and not by Peter or Paul. Peter, however, maintained that it was signed by “the team”, insisting that Jude was not part of the team.
He also admitted that the 10 songs for which SACEM paid royalties were P-Square songs.
Peter confirmed that he had previously paid a quarter of his SACEM share to Jude, but denied that Jude demanded quarterly payments from the royalties after their reconciliation in 2022.
When further confronted with the claim that he had received approximately $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026, he admitted receiving the money but nothing was given to his brother, saying that the money was for the artists.
Asked whether he informed Jude about the payments, Peter answered “No, the money was for the artists”.
When asked what he paid Jude as the manager of P-Square group, Peter said he had no employment contract with Jude, explaining that the arrangement was through Northside Entertainment Limited.
When also asked whether Jude was part of P-Square, Peter replied and said: “Jude is not part of P-Square.”
When asked whether this meant Jude was not involved in music produced by P-Square, Peter maintained that all the group’s songs were composed, written and produced by him and Paul. But acknowledged that Jude directed some of P-Square’s music videos.
Meanwhile, further hearing of the matter has been adjourned to December 8 and 9, 2026..
