Henry Okoye, one of the brothers of the defunct music duo, P-Square, has said that their late mother Josephine Okoye, did not want Jude Okoye to manage the musicians.
In an interview with social commentator Jos Connection at the Okoye family residence in Plateau State on Friday, Henry said he was P-Square’s sponsor when the duo – Peter and Paul – did not find anyone to sponsor their music and that Jude was not involved at the time.
“When they started music, they were looking for sponsors. They didn’t see any. When I started sponsoring them, Jude was not there. When Benson & Hedges came to Jos looking for artistes, it was me that took them to the stadium for a performance; they came first. Jude was not there. We were travelling from state to state for music, sometimes they used my car (to distribute) flyers.
“We just took it as a family thing but we knew that it’s Peter and Paul that own it. We’re only supporting them. Sometimes we travelled to Abuja; my sister, the one we call Lilian, was the one who collected gate fee. As the elder brother I was the bodyguard.
“They started making money bit by bit. Jude came in and said he wanted to manage them. We allowed Jude, my mum disagreed,” he said.
Mrs Okoye died on July 11, 2012, in India following heart surgery.
Speaking further, Henry said Paul’s change in behaviour surprised him and added that he (Paul) used to be “the nicest person in the family”.
“They promised me 20 per cent when they start making money. Jude intervened and dismissed that. I challenged him that he wasn’t there when we started everything but now chasing everybody away from them,” Henry said.
He added that he would be happy if the brothers reunited but expressed doubts that such a reconciliation would happen.
“I will be happy for them to come back together but I don’t think it will happen. Paul was a very kind person,” he added.
Henry urged Jude to help restore the family to its former state by settling the disagreements among the siblings.
Henry, who is older than Jude, said their eldest brother Christopher does not want to be involved in the dispute as he is “born again”.
Peter and Paul effectively split in 2017. However, in 2021, they reunited but fell out again in 2024.
The rift resulted in the arraignment of Jude in 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of fraud to the tune of N1.38bn, $1m and £34,537.59. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The case is still in court.
