Mr P testifies against brother Jude Okoye in $1m theft trial

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, May 16, 2025, presented its first prosecution witness, popular singer Peter Okoye, also known as Mr P, in the trial of his elder brother and former manager, Jude Chigozie Okoye. The trial is before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja.

Jude, standing trial alongside his company, Northside Music Ltd., faces a four-count charge bordering on alleged theft of $1 million and £34,537. Led in evidence by EFCC counsel Mohammed Bashir, Mr P testified that the petition leading to the trial was submitted by him on January 22, 2024.

In his testimony, Mr P revealed that investigations by the EFCC uncovered that Jude’s wife, Ifeoma, owns 80 percent of Northside Music Ltd., while Jude holds the remaining 20 percent. He said he initially wrote the company as the respondent in his petition, but later findings showed that the ownership structure was skewed in Ifeoma’s favour.

He further told the court that over 47 bank accounts were allegedly used by Jude to receive royalties without the knowledge of the music group. He stated that although both Jude and his twin brother Paul were invited by the EFCC, only Jude was detained following his admission to wrongdoing.

Mr P also told the court that Paul informed him during a meeting at the EFCC office that Jude allegedly owns 40 percent of P-Square’s assets, while both twins own 30 percent each. He noted that Ifeoma had never been involved in their business dealings and that he was unaware when Northside Music was registered in 2015.

Earlier in the proceedings, Mr P had testified that he and Paul launched their music career in 1999 and later formed Northside Entertainment Ltd. in 2005/2006. All three brothers were directors in the company, but Jude was the sole signatory to its accounts in three banks—Ecobank, FCMB, and Zenith.

He explained that before their 2017 breakup, royalties were transparently paid into the group account. However, after reuniting in 2021, he noticed discrepancies in royalty payments, prompting further scrutiny. Attempts to access backend data during negotiations with catalog buyers revealed tampering by Jude, which reportedly discouraged multiple potential buyers.

The prosecution tendered the petition dated January 22, 2024, without objection from the defence, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Clement Onwuenwunor. The case was adjourned till May 23, 2025, for continuation of trial.