Entertainment

Peter of P-square testifies against brother in fraud case

Published

12 months ago

April 15, 2025

Jude, Mr P. and Rudeboy

Peter of P-square testifies against brother in fraud case

The trial of Jude Okoye, former Manager of Psquare group, over alleged money laundering to the tune of N1.38 billion, $1 million and £34,537.59, commenced, yesterday, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, with his younger brother, Peter Okoye, testifying against him.

Jude alongside his company, Northside Music Limited, are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a seven-count charge of the offences.

Trial judge in the matter is Justice Alexander Owoeye.

His trial followed a petition written to the commission by his brother, Peter.

One of the charges reads: “That you, Jude Okoye and Northside Music Limited sometime in 2022, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this court, did directly acquire a landed property known as No 5, Tony Eromosele Street Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos worth N850million only, which money you knew or reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18 (2) (d) and punishable under Section 18 (3) of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.”
Meanwhile, Jude had denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to all charges.

At the resumed hearing of the matter, the first prosecution witness, Peter, who introduced himself as Peter Obumuneme Okoye, while being led in evidence by the prosecutor, Aso Larrys Peters, told the court, how his brother, Jude defrauded him.

In his evidence, he said: “He’s my elder brother and former manager to the group called P-square
“Sometimes in 2017, the group P-square disbanded, we were apart for nearly 5-years plus. In November 2021, the group came back.

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“We were part for 5-years 2017-2021. Psquare started in 1997-98. Before Jude became our manager, we had several managers who includes Chioma Ugochi. She managed us when we were in secondary – University studies. We also had late Bayo Odusami of Mbuntu music, he managed us for 5-years. After myself and twin brother managed ourselves for couple of months, before we decided that he (Jude) managed us and Northside Entertainment Ltd.

“So, we continued running our business and sometimes we started having issues on how he run the business. The issues were mainly on how he was the sole signatory to all our bank accounts in Ecobank, Zenith and FCMB.

“Whenever we had these issues for couples of months, I did not have access to money. Not until when Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, now Minister of Aviation, who was our lawyer came up that we have should have a sharing formula.
“There was a scenario that happened when we were building our houses in Ikoyi, whereby it was only defendant can signed out money. The finance of the house project was by Northwest Entertainment Ltd, but they just stopped financing my house for six months.

“The accounts were owned by the company, while the defendant was the only signatory to all the accounts. Within that six months, when we came back, I approached the defendant and my twin brother, Paul, and asked why they stopped financing my project. What I heard from them was as I left P-Square, I left the money’. With that comment, I approached our lawyer, Keyamo, who asked me that if I wanted to buy phone, I needed to ask the first defendant. All our money was in Northside Entertainment which he was the sole signatory.

“Sometimes in 2017, the group disbanded after 5 years, November 17, 2021, there was a reunion again, and this time, the defendant was no longer managing us. I discovered that there was a company similar to ours, Northside Music Limited, and by ending of 2022, I made discovery when some people wanted to acquire our albums, and these individuals demanded for our statement of account to know how much the albums generates monthly, because I don’t have access to ‘backend.’ Then I went to my twin brother, Paul, who replied ‘You know that I don’t know anything about it but Jude, I said let’s go him, he then said he would go and meet him then I left him.”

He said a few weeks later, he approached Paul again and asked ‘have you contacted Jude, he said Paul told him that he did not have the time, and thereafter, approached Jude again, who told him that his share of money was with some people in South Africa, and he replied that he was not asking for money but backend and the statement of accounts again, there’s no positive response.

Peter further told the court that based on the defendant’s response, he knew that something was going on, he then asked the accounts officers in both Eco Bank and Zenith Bank, adding that when he could not get a satisfactory response from the account officers.

Peter of P-square testifies against brother in fraud case

Entertainment

Madam Saje brokers peace in Akindele–Abraham feud

Published

21 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Madam Saje brokers peace in Akindele–Abraham feud

Veteran Nollywood actress Fausat Balogun has intervened to settle a brewing rift involving leading actresses Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham and Iyabo Ojo, bringing a swift resolution to a controversy that had stirred conversations across the entertainment space.

The disagreement, which recently played out in the public eye, was triggered by an incident at a movie premiere hosted by Iyabo Ojo.

During the event, Akindele was perceived to have ignored a greeting from Abraham — a moment that quickly went viral and fuelled speculation of a deepening divide among some of Nollywood’s most influential figures.

The situation gained further traction after Iyabo Ojo weighed in, hinting that underlying tensions may have stemmed from earlier remarks by Abraham about feeling sidelined in the industry — comments believed to have conflicted with a prior understanding between her and Akindele.

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The development reignited discussions about rivalry, recognition and unspoken competition within the Yoruba film circle.

Such disputes are not entirely new in Nollywood, where collaborations, endorsements and box office rivalry often place top actors under intense public scrutiny.

Social media has also amplified minor misunderstandings, frequently turning them into major talking points that shape public perception of celebrities and their relationships.

Amid the growing buzz, Madam Saje stepped in, leveraging her status as a respected industry figure to de-escalate tensions.

In a video shared on Instagram, she confirmed that she had engaged all parties involved and successfully mediated peace among them.

“I have taken up the matter since yesterday. I’ve resolved it and ordered them to take it off social media. I made them realise that their matter should no longer be discussed on social media again,” she said.

Her intervention appears to have restored calm, reinforcing calls within the industry for unity and discretion, especially among high-profile actors whose influence extends beyond the screen.

Madam Saje brokers peace in Akindele–Abraham feud

Entertainment

Iyabo Ojo Quits Mediation Between Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Toyin Abraham, Iyabo Ojo and Funke Akindele

Iyabo Ojo Quits Mediation Between Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham

Nollywood actress and filmmaker Iyabo Ojo has announced that she will no longer act as a mediator in the ongoing dispute between fellow stars Funke Akindele and Toyin Abraham, citing her inability to resolve the tensions despite her best efforts. She made the disclosure in a detailed post on her Instagram page on Tuesday, addressing criticisms of her involvement and clarifying her past efforts to reconcile the actresses.

Ojo explained that her friendship with Akindele spans several years and has had ups and downs. She admitted to previously publicly criticising Akindele over a movie issue, which she later regretted, but the two reconciled. She then took deliberate steps to broker peace between Akindele and Abraham, at times pleading with both to embrace harmony, which they reportedly did for a period.

Awkward Moment At Iyabo Ojo Premiere As Funke Akindele Appears To Snub Toyin Abraham

The actress noted that the reconciliation came with an agreement that any future disputes should be resolved privately and off social media. However, she said the arrangement fell apart last December after Abraham raised complaints about alleged sabotage affecting her movie, which sparked renewed tensions and fan speculation against Akindele.

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The situation escalated following the premiere of Ojo’s new film The Return of Arinzo at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos, where a viral video showed Abraham greeting colleagues while Akindele appeared to ignore her. The incident sparked widespread debate on social media, with fans questioning whether past differences had resurfaced. Ojo also clarified that Abraham had originally been cast in her film but withdrew due to exhaustion and travel commitments, causing last-minute script changes.

Despite her repeated attempts, Ojo said she can no longer intervene in the feud. “Honestly, all this saddened me because the sky is big enough for all. I have tried my best, but at this point, I can’t beg anyone anymore. I honestly don’t want to get involved anymore,” she wrote. She urged fans to respect her decision, emphasising that when both parties are ready, they will reconcile on their own terms.

Ojo also promoted her film, confirming that The Return of Arinzo is set to premiere nationwide in cinemas from April 3. The renewed public attention on Akindele and Abraham’s relationship highlights the growing interest in Nollywood celebrity dynamics and the challenges of managing personal conflicts in the public eye.

Iyabo Ojo Quits Mediation Between Funke Akindele, Toyin Abraham

Entertainment

Céline Dion Announces Stage Comeback After Four-Year Health Battle

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Trends Admin

Global music icon Céline Dion

Céline Dion Announces Stage Comeback After Four-Year Health Battle

Global music icon Céline Dion has officially announced her return to singing and live performances, four years after stepping away from the stage due to a rare neurological condition.

In a heartfelt video shared on her Instagram page on Monday to mark her 58th birthday, the Grammy-winning singer told fans she is recovering steadily and ready to reconnect with audiences.

“I want to let you know that I’m doing great, managing my health, I’m feeling good, I’m singing again, even doing a little bit of dancing,” she said, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support she received during her health struggles.

She also confirmed a major comeback project titled ‘Celine Dion Paris 2026’, a 10-show concert residency scheduled to begin in September in Paris, with presale tickets opening on April 7. The shows are expected to take place at the Paris La Défense Arena, marking her first full-scale return to the stage since 2022.

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Dion’s return follows her diagnosis with Stiff-Person Syndrome, a rare and chronic neurological disorder she publicly disclosed in December 2022. The condition causes severe muscle stiffness, spasms, and mobility challenges, significantly affecting her ability to perform.

At the time, she was forced to cancel her “Courage World Tour”, including multiple shows across Europe, after revealing that the illness had impacted her ability to walk and sing.

In a 2024 interview with NBC News, Dion described the condition as extremely painful, likening it to “someone’s strangling you,” highlighting how it affected her vocal cords and breathing.

Her health journey was further documented in the 2024 film I Am: Céline Dion, where she openly shared emotional moments and the physical toll of the illness. In the trailer, she emphasized her determination to return to performing, saying, “If I can’t run, I’ll walk. If I can’t walk, I’ll crawl. I won’t stop.”

Despite the challenges, Dion has gradually returned to public life, including a widely praised appearance at the 2024 Summer Olympics opening ceremony, which reignited speculation about her comeback.

Her upcoming Paris residency is being seen as a major milestone, not only in her career but also in her recovery. Industry watchers say the carefully structured performance schedule reflects efforts to balance her health with the physical demands of live shows.

Widely regarded as one of the best-selling artists of all time, Dion has sold over 200 million records worldwide. Her iconic hit My Heart Will Go On—the theme from the blockbuster film Titanic—remains one of the most streamed songs globally, with hundreds of millions of plays across platforms like Spotify.

Fans around the world have welcomed the announcement as one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent music history, with expectations already building for sold-out shows and a possible global tour if her recovery continues positively.