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By Lukman Olabiyi
Proceedings at the Lagos High Court on Friday, December 12, 2026, took a significant turn as the court rejected documents tendered by the defence team representing Jude Okoye in the ongoing trial over alleged diversion of P-Square’s royalties.
Justice Oshodi upheld objections raised by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), ruling that the documents were improperly introduced, misleading, and extraneous to the case.
The court held that the materials did not form part of the court’s record and consequently struck them out as inadmissible.
The decision echoed an earlier ruling delivered on November 28, when the defence made a similar attempt to tender disputed documents, which was also rejected following objections by the EFCC.
With the contested evidence set aside, the court proceeded with substantive hearing as Peter Okoye, popularly known as Mr P, continued his testimony as a key prosecution witness in the case involving the alleged diversion of royalties and corporate earnings belonging to P-Square.
Under cross-examination, Peter told the court that repeated efforts by the defence to introduce certain documents were aimed at diverting attention from the core issue before the court — the alleged diversion of funds belonging to Northside Entertainment Limited, jointly owned by Peter, Paul, and Jude Okoye, into bank accounts operated by a separate entity, Northside Music Limited.
He explained that the alleged irregularities came to light after the group’s temporary split, when established publishers and digital aggregators stopped paying royalties into Northside Entertainment’s authorised accounts. According to him, subsequent requests for bank statements and internal audits revealed that royalties, licence fees, advances, and digital revenues linked to P-Square were being channelled into Northside Music Limited.
Peter further told the court that the company receiving the funds was allegedly incorporated by Jude Okoye and his wife without the approval of the board and was not part of P-Square’s recognised business structure at the time the alleged diversions occurred.
He maintained that the redirection of earnings was carried out without the consent or knowledge of all directors, prompting him to petition the EFCC. Peter said investigations conducted by the commission corroborated claims of unauthorised diversion and misappropriation of royalties.
The witness also insisted that attempts to introduce Psquare Records into the proceedings were deliberate efforts to distract the court from what he described as an unlawful financial scheme that spanned several years.
The trial was adjourned to February 20 and 27, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
