Peter Okoye, one half of the renowned Nigerian music duo P-Square, has come forward to clarify his position in a recent family dispute that has captured the attention of fans and the public alike.
In a detailed statement, on Monday, Peter vehemently denied ever involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case against his twin brother, Paul Okoye.
The controversy erupted when Paul accused Peter of reporting him to the EFCC, claiming that a petition filed by Peter led to his being summoned by the anti-graft agency.
Paul alleged that the petition demanded he provide a surety, implying that he had been detained.
However, Peter has categorically refuted these claims, insisting that his actions were never directed at his brother.
To understand the root of the issue, it’s important to revisit the history of the P-Square brand. P-Square, composed of Peter and Paul Okoye, rose to prominence as one of Africa’s most successful music groups.
Along with their brother Jude Okoye, who served as their manager, they established a management company, Northside Entertainment, to handle their business affairs.
Over the years, P-Square became a household name, amassing millions of fans and generating substantial revenue.
However, tensions began to brew when Peter discovered the existence of another company with a similar name—Northside Music.
This company, according to Peter, was secretly established by Jude Okoye and his wife, Ifeoma Okoye.
The registered address of the company was the family home of Jude’s wife, raising suspicions about its legitimacy and intentions.
Peter, shocked by this revelation, decided to investigate further. He approached Paul multiple times to inquire if he was aware of the secret company and its activities, particularly concerning the royalties from P-Square’s music.
Each time, Paul denied any knowledge of the company or the whereabouts of the funds.
Despite Paul’s denials, Peter’s investigation revealed that millions of dollars and hundreds of millions of naira had been diverted from Northside Entertainment into the accounts of Northside Music.
The discovery of this secret diversion of funds, which had been ongoing for several years, led Peter to take legal action.
Peter emphasised that his legal team was instructed to focus solely on the primary suspects, Jude Okoye and his wife, Ifeoma.
He issued a standing order that Paul’s name should not be included in any petition.
According to Peter, the petition was directed only at those directly involved in the alleged misappropriation of funds.
“I challenge Paul or anyone else to show any petition that I, Peter Okoye, ever submitted against my twin brother Paul or that has Paul’s name on it,” Peter stated firmly, expressing his disbelief at the accusations made against him.
The situation took a dramatic turn when Jude was detained by the EFCC following an investigation. According to him, Jude admitted to diverting funds into the secret company, Northside Music, and his bank accounts were subsequently frozen.
He was later released on bail after meeting the required conditions, but the investigation is ongoing.
Peter revealed that the EFCC’s findings indicated that Northside Music had been collecting P-Square’s royalties for years, with the funds being funnelled through a bureau de change and transferred into Jude’s personal account.
The investigation also uncovered transactions where Jude allegedly split the funds with Paul, leaving Peter out of the loop. This led to further questions about Paul’s involvement, despite his claims of innocence.
However, Jude provided an explanation for the transfers, stating that the money he had been sending to Paul over the years was related to a debt he owed from the sale of their house in America.
According to Jude, these payments were instalments to pay back the loan, rather than a secret plot to share funds behind Peter’s back.
In response to Paul’s claims that the EFCC had cleared him, Peter maintained that Paul was never the target of his petition.
He reiterated that Paul was invited for questioning by the EFCC, just like other individuals who had dealings with Northside Music, including notable figures like Jason Njoku of Iroko TV and Amaju Pinnick.
Reflecting on the ongoing saga, Peter expressed his frustration at the situation but assured the public that the full story would eventually come to light.
He promised to release the exact petition and all related documents, including the EFCC’s final report, bank statements, and receipts, once the investigation is concluded.
For now, Peter said he had chosen to remain patient and allow the legal process to run its course. He concluded his statement by calling for divine intervention, saying, “May God help us all.”
