Singer Peter Okoye of the defunct group P-Square has told a Federal High Court that he received about $800,000 in royalties from the French music rights organisation SACEM, insisting his elder brother Jude Okoye was not entitled to any share of the money.
Peter made the disclosure while testifying virtually before Justice Alexander Owoeye during cross-examination by Clement Onwuewunor, senior counsel for Jude.
Jude Okoye and his company, Northside Music Limited, are standing trial on a seven-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged fraud involving N1.3 billion and $1 million. Jude has pleaded not guilty.
Peter maintained that the SACEM payments belonged to him and his twin brother Paul Okoye. When asked whether he informed Jude about the payments, he replied: “No, the money was for the artists.”
He rejected suggestions that Jude was entitled to a portion, stating: “Jude is not part of P-Square.” Peter added that he and Paul composed, wrote and produced all the group’s songs, while acknowledging that Jude directed some of their music videos.
Counsel put it to Peter that the SACEM contract was signed by Jude. Peter insisted the agreement was signed by “the team” and that Jude was not part of that team. He confirmed the 10 songs for which royalties were paid were P-Square tracks and said he had previously paid Jude a quarter of his SACEM share, but denied any demand for quarterly payments after a 2022 reconciliation.
On the issue of royalty records, Peter was questioned about an earlier claim that Jude took more than three months to provide back-end data after a 2022 request. When pressed to produce a document showing the request was made before October 16, 2022, he said: “No. I don’t have any and I can’t recall.”
Justice Owoeye adjourned the case until December 8 and 9 for further hearing.
