Singer Peter Okoye testified before a Federal High Court in Lagos that he was paid over $800,000 in royalties for songs recorded by the former band P-Square by the French music rights organization SACEM.
During his virtual testimony before Justice Alexander Owoeye, Peter revealed this information. Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, who is defending his brother Jude Okoye, cross-examined him.
Music publishers, composers, and songwriters receive income from SACEM.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a seven-count indictment against Jude Okoye and his business, Northside Music Limited, for suspected fraud involving N1.3 billion and $1 million. Jude entered a not guilty plea.
Peter was questioned throughout the hearing regarding his prior claim that Jude withheld P-Square’s royalty records from him for almost three months after he requested them in 2022.
The request was submitted on October 16, 2022, according to his attorney, and Jude received and sent the records six days later, on October 22.
Peter protested, claiming that earlier in 2022 he had requested the information. However, he acknowledged that he was unable to produce a text message, email, or any other proof that he made the request prior to October 16.
“No. I can’t remember and I don’t have any,” he remarked.
Peter attested to the fact that Jude eventually sent him the royalty statement. According to him, the document included payments related to Lex Records as well as royalties from 2016 to 2022.
He explained to the court that some people were interested in purchasing the P-Square music archive, which is why he needed the albums.
Additionally, Peter affirmed that the EFCC was aware that the documents had been supplied to him and that Jude had sent him the account data in 2022.
He denied Jude’s claim to a portion of the SACEM profits, claiming that he and his twin brother Paul were the rightful owners.
Peter said that “the team” signed the SACEM agreement when questioned about the fact that Jude, not Peter or Paul, signed it. Jude was not a team member, he insisted.
Additionally, he verified that the ten songs that produced the SACEM royalties were P-Square tunes. Peter denied that Jude then sought quarterly payments after the royalties were reconciled in 2022, even though he had previously provided Jude 25% of his SACEM revenues.
Peter acknowledged receiving the money when questioned about allegations that he earned roughly $800,000 from SACEM between 2016 and 2026.
However, he said that Jude did not receive any money from the payments and that the money belonged to the artists.
“No, the money was for the artists,” Peter said when asked if he had told Jude about the funds.
Regarding Jude’s role as manager of P-Square, Peter stated that there was no employment contract between them. He clarified that Northside Entertainment Limited was the conduit for their business deal.
Peter responded, “Jude is not part of P-Square,” when asked if Jude was a member.
Even though he admitted that Jude directed several of the group’s music videos, he insisted that he and Paul authored, recorded, and produced every P-Square song.
For a follow-up hearing, the court postponed the case to December 8 and 9, 2026.