Mr. P Testimony Challenged in $767,544 Fraud Case Against Jude Okoye

The Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Nigeria has adjourned the trial of Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct Nigerian music duo PSquare, to October 10 and 17 for continuation of proceedings. Presiding Justice Rahman Oshodi made the ruling following a tense cross-examination session involving Peter Okoye, one-half of the PSquare duo.

Jude Okoye, alongside his company Northside Music Ltd, is standing trial on a four-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Among the charges is the alleged dishonest conversion of $767,544.15 for personal use. The defendant has pleaded not guilty.

During Thursday’s proceedings, lead defence counsel Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN) launched a pointed cross-examination, accusing Peter of making contradictory statements both in court and in his prior submissions to the EFCC.

Claims of Contradiction and False Representation

Central to the defence’s argument was the assertion that Peter Okoye’s testimony was riddled with inconsistencies. Onwuenwunor challenged Peter’s academic claims, revealing that despite identifying as a graduate of the University of Abuja in his EFCC statement, he had not completed his degree. Confronted with the discrepancy, Peter backtracked, claiming he had only said he “attended” the university. However, court-admitted EFCC documents showed otherwise, prompting Peter to admit the misrepresentation.

Disputes Over Access and Financial Dealings

Further undermining Peter’s claims, the defence submitted documentary evidence showing that both Peter and his twin brother Paul Okoye had signatory access to the Northside Entertainment Ltd accounts. Contrary to Peter’s earlier claim that Jude Okoye held sole financial authority, the defence presented a bank mandate that identified Jude as a Category A signatory and Peter and Paul as Category B signatories.

Bank statements were also tendered, demonstrating that Peter made substantial withdrawals and received direct transfers from the company account—contradicting his assertion that he never financially benefited from the company.

Discrepancies in Royalty Payment Testimony

The defence also challenged Peter’s claims about royalty payments from Mad Solutions, the company responsible for managing PSquare’s music catalogue. Peter previously testified that he was unaware of the Mad Solutions agreement and had received only $25,000 and $20,000 in royalties.

In response, the defence presented documents indicating the contract had been signed by all three brothers, and that royalty entitlements were equally shared. Payment records revealed Peter had in fact received $4,330.47 and $5,837.35—much less than the amounts he had stated under oath.

“Peter’s testimony before the EFCC is riddled with lies and misrepresentations,” Onwuenwunor told the court. “This is not just a matter of forgetfulness. This is an intentional effort to mislead investigators and this honourable court.”

Court Guidance and Next Steps

Justice Oshodi admitted several key documents into evidence and urged the defence to ensure that all materials intended for use are shared with the prosecution ahead of future sessions.

“If you intend to use a document, make it available to them to make the trial faster,” the judge advised.

The court will reconvene on October 10 and 17 for the continuation of the trial.

Source: African Publicity