Singer Peter Okoye has told the Federal High Court in Lagos that he received about $800,000 in royalties from the French music-rights organisation SACEM for P-Square songs between 2016 and 2026, but did not give any part of the payments to his elder brother and former manager, Jude Okoye, because he maintained that the money belonged to the artistes.
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Peter, one half of the defunct music duo P-Square, made the disclosure on Monday, September 21, 2026, while undergoing virtual cross-examination before Justice Alexander Owoeye.
He was cross-examined by Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, counsel to Jude, who is standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, on a seven-count charge brought by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
The EFCC is prosecuting Jude and the company over alleged money laundering involving about ₦1.38 billion, $1 million and £34,537.59. They have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the allegations remain subject to determination by the court.
Monday’s proceedings focused largely on P-Square’s royalty records, payments received from SACEM and the nature of Jude’s role in the group’s music and business affairs.
SACEM Société des Auteurs, Compositeurs et Éditeurs de Musique is a French organisation responsible for collecting and distributing royalties to songwriters, composers and music publishers.
During cross-examination, Peter was confronted with his previous claim that Jude took more than three months to provide him with records of P-Square’s backend royalties after he requested them in 2022.
Jude’s counsel put it to Peter that the request was made on October 16, 2022, and that Jude obtained and forwarded the records to him six days later, on October 22.
Peter disagreed with that account and insisted that he had requested the documents earlier in 2022.
However, when counsel asked him to produce a text message, email or other document showing that he had made the request before October 16, Peter said he had none and could not recall any such documentary evidence.
Peter nevertheless confirmed that Jude eventually sent him the royalty report and acknowledged that the documents covered the period from 2016 to 2022, including records connected with Lex Records.
Explaining why he wanted the records, Peter told the court that there had been interest from people seeking to acquire the P-Square music catalogue.
He also confirmed that Jude forwarded the relevant account information to him in 2022 and acknowledged that the EFCC was aware that the records had been supplied.
Cross-examination subsequently shifted to royalty payments from SACEM.
Peter confirmed that the approximately 10 songs for which SACEM made payments were P-Square songs.
When Jude’s counsel suggested that Peter had received approximately $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026, the singer acknowledged receiving the money.
He also confirmed that he did not give Jude any portion of those payments.
But Peter disputed the suggestion that this amounted to withholding money to which Jude was entitled, maintaining that SACEM royalties belonged to himself and his twin brother, Paul Okoye, as the artistes behind P-Square.
Asked whether he informed Jude about the payments, Peter replied: “No, the money was for the artists.”
The cross-examination also examined the agreement through which the SACEM royalties were generated.
Jude’s counsel put it to Peter that the SACEM agreement had been signed by Jude rather than Peter or Paul.
Peter responded that the agreement had been signed by “the team”, while maintaining that Jude was not a member of P-Square in the sense of being one of the artistes.
Peter nevertheless acknowledged that he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his own share of SACEM royalties.
He, however, denied that Jude demanded or was entitled to quarterly payments from those royalties after the brothers reconciled in 2022.
The defence also questioned Peter about Jude’s role as manager of P-Square and what remuneration he received for performing that role.
Peter said he did not have an individual employment contract with Jude and explained that the management arrangement operated through Northside Entertainment Limited.
When asked directly whether Jude was part of P-Square, Peter maintained that he was not.
He further told the court that P-Square’s songs were composed, written and produced by himself and Paul, although he acknowledged that Jude directed some of the duo’s music videos.
The testimony adds another dimension to the financial dispute among the Okoye brothers, particularly over the ownership and administration of royalties generated by the P-Square catalogue.
Peter is a prosecution witness in the criminal case against Jude and Northside Music Limited. He had earlier testified in April 2025 that he petitioned the EFCC after becoming concerned about the handling of the group’s finances and royalties.
During that earlier testimony, Peter alleged that Jude had incorporated Northside Music Limited and used it in connection with the collection and control of P-Square royalties without his knowledge or consent. Those assertions form part of Peter’s evidence and remain contested by the defence.
The EFCC had arraigned Jude and Northside Music Limited on February 26, 2025.
Among the allegations in the seven-count charge is that Jude and the company acquired a property at No. 5 Tony Eromosele Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, valued at ₦850 million, with funds the prosecution alleges constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.
Another aspect of the EFCC’s case alleges that approximately $1.019 million held in a Northside Music Limited account was converted through a Bureau de Change into naira and transferred into various accounts in a manner the commission alleges was intended to conceal the origin of the funds.
The defendants deny the allegations.
The charges were brought under provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022.
Jude pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him, making the prosecution responsible for establishing the allegations beyond reasonable doubt.
Peter’s testimony concerning his own receipt of SACEM royalties does not itself constitute an admission that the payments were unlawful or connected to the criminal allegations against Jude. Rather, Monday’s cross-examination was directed at testing Peter’s account of the brothers’ royalty arrangements, Jude’s role in P-Square’s financial affairs and the accuracy of aspects of Peter’s earlier evidence.
The defence appears to be relying on the royalty records, Peter’s acknowledgment that Jude supplied them, the SACEM contractual arrangements and previous payments Peter made to Jude as part of its challenge to the prosecution witness’s account.
The case had previously been adjourned in June after Peter was unable to attend court for scheduled cross-examination. The EFCC told the court at the time that his flight from Abuja to Lagos had been rescheduled, while the defence disputed the explanation. Justice Owoeye subsequently fixed September 21 for continuation of proceedings.
Following Monday’s cross-examination, Justice Owoeye adjourned further hearing in the case to December 8 and 9, 2026.
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