Henry Okoye, elder brother of defunct music duo P-Square, has said their late mother, Josephine Okoye, opposed Jude Okoye’s appointment as the group’s manager.
Speaking in an interview with social commentator Jos Connection at the Okoye family residence in Plateau State on Friday, Henry said he sponsored the duo’s early music career before Jude got involved.
He said he introduced Peter and Paul to Benson & Hedges representatives who came to Jos scouting for artistes, and that the brothers relied on family support, including his car, to distribute flyers and travel for shows.
“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,” he said.
Henry said the family supported Peter and Paul without expecting formal roles, noting that their sister Lilian collected gate fees at shows while he served as bodyguard.
“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,” he said.
He said Jude later stepped in to manage the duo once they began earning money, a move their mother resisted.
“They started making money bit by bit. Jude came in and said he wanted to manage them. We allowed Jude, my mum disagreed,” Henry said.
Josephine Okoye died on July 11, 2012, in India following heart surgery.
Henry also said he was promised 20 per cent of the duo’s earnings, an arrangement he claimed Jude later cancelled.
“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,” he said.
He said Paul’s change in behaviour surprised him, describing his brother as someone who used to be “the nicest person in the family.”
Henry said he wants the brothers to reconcile but doubts it will happen, and called on Jude to help restore peace within the family. He added that their eldest brother, Christopher, has stayed out of the dispute because he is “born again.”
Peter and Paul split as a duo in 2017, reunited in 2021, and fell out again in 2024. The fallout led to Jude’s arraignment in 2025 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on fraud allegations totalling N1.38bn, $1m and £34,537.59. He pleaded not guilty, and the case remains before the court.
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