Singer Peter “Mr P” Okoye has stated that his twin brother Paul “Rudeboy” Okoye informed him that their previous manager and older brother Jude Okoye is the owner of their now-defunct group Psquare.
Mr. P, whose real name is Peter Okoye, testified as the first witness on Friday in Jude’s ongoing fraud prosecution.
In the Ikeja high court, Jude and his business, Northside Music Ltd., are on trial before Ramon Oshodi for allegedly laundering N1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
Led in evidence by Mohammed Bashir, the prosecuting counsel, Mr P claimed that Jude never denied the money laundering allegations against him, however, “my twin brother (Paul) told me that our elder brother (Jude) owns P-Square”.
He also alleged that Ifeoma Okoye, Jude’s wife, owned 80% of Northside Music Ltd, while his elder brother owned the remaining 20% shares.
According to Mr P, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) questioned him about Paul’s involvement in the alleged financial misconduct, to which he responded that he was unaware.
“I went to the EFCC with my lawyer to submit the petition on January 22, 2024. I initially wrote Northside Music as the respondent. But upon various investigations carried out by the Commission, it was discovered that Jude’s wife, Ifeoma, is the owner of the company because she owns 80 per cent shares, while Jude retains the remaining 20 per cent,” he said.
“I submitted the petition and I never spoke to either Paul or Jude until early April in 2024 when the EFCC asked if my twin brother was involved and I said I did not know.
“The Commission discovered there were over 47 bank accounts used by Jude to receive royalties.”
He also told the court that though Paul and Jude were invited by the commission, the latter was detained.
“Jude never denied that he committed the crime. However, my twin brother told me during a meeting at the EFCC office that our elder brother owns P-Square,” he said.
“Paul told me Jude owns 40 per cent, while the two of us owe 30 per cent each.
“Ifeoma was never part of our engagement and I was not aware when Northside Music was registered.
“Northside Music, according to my findings, was registered in 2015 and had been operating illegally two years prior to our break-up.”
During the court session, the prosecution sought to admit a petition dated January 22, 2024, as evidence. The defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor, however, did not object to its admissibility.
The case was adjourned till May 23.
