Former P Square manager, Jude Okoye, has pushed back against claims by his younger brother, Peter Okoye, better known as Mr P, that he diverted more than $1.2 million in music royalties. He maintained that the matter has already been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and is currently before the court.
Speaking in a video shared on his Instagram page on Sunday, Jude accused Mr P of trying to sway public opinion instead of allowing the legal process to run its course. He suggested that the public statements were an attempt to influence the ongoing case, insisting that the dispute should be resolved in court rather than on social media.
According to Jude, “You are trying to bait me. You know the court is not going to your favour.”
He also accused Mr P of repeatedly failing to appear in court, alleging that his younger brother had missed three consecutive court sittings. Jude questioned why Mr P was avoiding the proceedings despite making public allegations against him.
Addressing claims that he and his younger brother, Paul Okoye, popularly known as Rudeboy, diverted a royalty payment of about $25,000, Jude insisted the payment was processed strictly according to instructions given by Mr P in 2016.
He explained that records from digital music distributor IROKO showed that Peter directed his own share of the royalties to be paid into his personal account, while the remaining funds belonging to Jude and Rudeboy were transferred into the Northside Entertainment account.
Jude said Peter was fully aware of the payment arrangement, adding that the EFCC had already reviewed the issue during its investigation. He questioned why the matter was still being presented differently in the public space when it remained before the court.
He also dismissed claims that Mr P was removed as a signatory to P Square’s bank accounts. According to Jude, the official bank mandate, which has already been presented as evidence in court, clearly shows that Peter remained a signatory to all of the group’s accounts.
Jude further rejected allegations that it took three and a half months to provide backend access to the group’s music catalogue. He stated that the requested records were released within six days and claimed that system download logs confirmed Peter accessed the files immediately after they became available.
Responding to another allegation, Jude disputed Mr P’s claim that he only recently started receiving royalty payments in United States dollars. He maintained that available payment records showed Peter had been receiving dollar payments as far back as 2012.
On the allegation that more than $1.2 million in royalties had been diverted, Jude firmly denied any wrongdoing. He insisted that every royalty payment was properly documented and distributed in accordance with the agreements already in place.
Jude also spoke about the personal impact of the ongoing legal battle, revealing that his bank account has remained frozen for more than two years. He added that the restrictions have also prevented him from travelling during that period.
The latest public exchange marks another chapter in the long running disagreement between the Okoye brothers. While both sides continue to stand by their respective positions, the royalty dispute remains before the court for determination.
