Singer Peter Okoye of defunct P-Square on Monday admit for Federal High Court in Lagos say im elder brother Jude Okoye send am six years of di group royalty records from 2016 to 2022.
Peter tok dis one when counsel to Jude, Clement Onwuewunor, SAN, cross-examine am for di ongoing trial of Jude and im company, Northside Music Limited, over alleged financial crimes.
Di singer before don claim say Jude take more than three months before he provide di backend royalty records after he ask for dem in 2022.
But under cross-examination before Justice Alexander Owoeye, dem confront am say he ask for di records on October 16, 2022, and say Jude get and send dem to am six days later, on October 22.
Peter no agree; he insist say he make di request earlier in 2022.
Wen dem ask am to produce text message, email or oda document wey show say he ask before October 16, 2022, Peter admit: ‘No. I don’t have any and I can’t recall.’
He later confirm say he receive di royalty report wey Jude send and say e cover royalties from 2016 to 2022, including records wey concern Lex Records.
Peter explain say he ask for di records because some people wan buy P-Square music catalogue.
He also acknowledge say Jude forward account information to am in 2022 and say EFCC know say dem send di report to am.
Di cross-examination come turn to royalties wey French music-rights organisation, SACEM, pay for P-Square musical works.
Peter admit say he receive about $800,000 in SACEM royalties between 2016 and 2026, but he talk say he no give Jude any share of di money.
Wen dem ask whether he tell Jude about di payments, Peter reply: ‘No, the money was for the artists.’
He dispute Jude entitlement to di SACEM royalties, maintain say di payments belong to am and im twin brother, Paul Okoye.
Peter however acknowledge say Jude sign di SACEM contract, although he maintain say ‘the team’ sign am, and he insist say Jude no be part of di team.
He also confirm say di 10 songs wey SACEM pay royalties for na P-Square songs.
Wen dem ask whether Jude be part of P-Square, Peter talk: ‘Jude is not part of P-Square.’
He still acknowledge say Jude direct some of P-Square music videos.
Peter further confirm say he before pay a quarter of im SACEM share to Jude, but he deny say Jude demand quarterly payments from di royalties after dem reconcile in 2022.
On Jude role as manager of P-Square, Peter talk say he no get employment contract with im elder brother, explain say di arrangement na through Northside Entertainment Limited.
He maintain say all P-Square songs na him and Paul Okoye compose, write and produce, while he acknowledge Jude role in directing some of di group music videos.
Jude and Northside Music Limited dey face seven-count charge wey Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) bring, involving alleged fraud of N1.3 billion and $1 million.
Jude don plead not guilty to di charges.
Further hearing in di matter don adjourn till December 8 and 9, 2026.
