Once hailed as Africa’s most bankable musical duo, P-Square, made up of twin brothers Peter and Paul Okoye, mesmerized fans for over a decade with their talent, chemistry, and electrifying performances.
Behind their global stardom stood a third brother, Jude ‘Engees’ Okoye, the mastermind manager who engineered their brand, directed their videos, and managed their operations.
But beneath the glittering success story, tension simmered for years — until it exploded in courtrooms, headlines, and social media threads.
This is the full story — of fame, family, business, betrayal, and the billion-naira question that may never get a peaceful answer.
THE MAKING OF P-SQUARE
In the early 2000s, Peter and Paul Okoye emerged from Jos, Plateau State, where they had started performing together in a group called MMMPP. Their early love for R&B and hip-hop fused with Nigerian beats to birth a new sound. By 2003, with the release of their debut album Last Nite, they caught national attention.
It wasn’t just the music — it was the vision. And Jude Okoye, their elder brother, was the lens through which that vision became reality. He was their director, producer, promoter, and manager.
Under his stewardship, they released album after album — Get Squared, Game Over, Danger, The Invasion, Double Trouble — each selling millions of copies across Africa and Europe.
By 2010, P-Square had become Nigeria’s biggest music export. Their shows were sold out across Africa, Europe, and North America. Collaborations with Rick Ross, Akon, and T.I. cemented their position on the global stage.
Their wealth also grew. Endorsement deals with Glo, Olympic Milk, and others. Real estate. Luxury cars. Private jets. The Okoye name was now a business empire.
Or so it seemed.
THE FIRST CRACKS
In 2014, fans began noticing tension in the group. There were cryptic social media posts, cancelled performances, and visible coldness in interviews. In a revealing interview years later, Peter claimed that Jude’s domineering attitude and refusal to be accountable for finances created serious rifts within the trio.
Peter accused Jude of treating him and Paul like employees, not partners. The strain intensified when Peter married his longtime partner, Lola Omotayo — a move Jude and Paul allegedly disapproved of.
By 2017, P-Square officially split. They each pursued solo careers: Peter as Mr. P and Paul as Rudeboy. But while fans mourned the musical split, the deeper financial feud was yet to unfold.
THE NORTHSIDE CONTROVERSY
Central to the ongoing financial scandal is a company named Northside Music Ltd, allegedly set up by Jude Okoye in 2013.
According to court documents filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Peter Okoye discovered that this company had been collecting and controlling all of P-Square’s royalties from international platforms like YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, and Amazon — without his knowledge or consent.
Peter’s testimony alleged that Jude registered the company under his name, listed himself as the sole director, and used it to divert funds meant for the group. He only found out when he received royalty statements with Northside Ltd listed as the beneficiary.
He claimed that when he confronted Jude, he was met with defiance and denial. He left the group in 2017 not just over creative differences, but because he could no longer trust the financial structure they were all operating under.
EFCC STEPS IN
In 2024, Peter Okoye petitioned the EFCC, detailing financial discrepancies that amounted to:
- ₦1.38 billion
- $1 million
- £34,537.59
Jude Okoye was summoned, detained briefly, and subsequently arraigned before a Federal High Court in Lagos on multiple counts of fraud, misappropriation, and criminal breach of trust.
The EFCC, in a press release dated May 2025, stated that their investigation revealed large transfers from P-Square revenue sources into private accounts controlled by Northside Ltd and affiliated companies linked to Jude.
Notably, the EFCC also claimed that a portion of the money was used to buy real estate worth over ₦850 million — property allegedly not declared or co-owned by the other brothers.
THE COURTROOM DRAMA
In court, Peter Okoye took the stand as the first prosecution witness, detailed years of silence and failed attempts to seek answers from Jude. According to him:
“We were making money, but I had no access to our revenue breakdown. Everything was handled by Jude. When I requested transparency, I was shut down.”
Jude Okoye’s legal team pushed back hard. His lawyer argued that Peter and Paul were co-signatories to the Northside account, and presented documentation showing they had, at some point, signed mandate forms authorizing Jude to act on behalf of the group..
A signed First Bank account mandate dated 2015 listed Jude as a Category A signatory, while Peter and Paul were Category B signatories. According to their counsel, this indicated full knowledge and consent by the twins.
They also claimed Peter’s testimony was “emotionally charged” but “lacking hard financial evidence.”
A BILLION-NAIRA QUESTION
At the heart of it all lies one unavoidable question:
Where did the money go?
If ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and over £34,000 truly flowed into Northside Ltd’s accounts, how was it spent?
EFCC investigators claim:
- Several large cash withdrawals were made from Northside Ltd accounts
- Funds were traced to two real estate acquisitions
- At least three unexplained foreign transactions were made between 2015 and 2019
- No audited financial report has ever been provided to Peter or Paul
Jude, for his part, maintains that every transaction was business-related — from music video production to artist development (including Cynthia Morgan and May D, both of whom had bitter fallouts with Northside).
In court, he claimed:
“There was no fraud. Only misunderstanding. I took care of these boys from nothing, and today they want to crucify me”
The Personal Fallout: Brothers Torn Apart
The public nature of the accusations has deeply affected the Okoye family.
Paul Okoye’s Position
Paul Okoye (Rudeboy), who had remained somewhat in the background, publicly confirmed the breakup of P-Square. He attributed the final split to Peter’s decision to leave the group and accused Peter of filing petitions against him.
The fracturing of the group signals a permanent end to one of Africa’s most beloved acts.
Emotional Toll
Sources close to the family report deep emotional distress. The brothers who once shared a stage and a dream now avoid speaking publicly or privately. The rupture highlights how money and power can poison even the closest relationships.
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS
The case has been adjourned to October 23, 2025, and more witnesses are expected to testify, including Paul Okoye and financial experts. The EFCC has hinted at possible forensic audits of all group revenues from 2009 to 2017.
Regardless of the verdict, one thing is clear: the magic of P-Square may never return. Even if the courts order compensation or clear Jude of wrongdoing, the emotional and moral trust that once held the trio together is long gone.
The Legacy and The Lessons
The Okoye story is bigger than music. It’s about what happens when power, money, and family intertwine — and unravel.
From the outside, they had it all. Talent. Fame. Wealth. Brotherhood. But inside, they had something much more fragile: silence, secrets, and assumptions.
The ₦1.38 billion question is not just about lost money. It’s about the cost of broken trust. A cost that even the richest brothers in Africa’s music scene may never be able to pay back.
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