Henry Okoye, elder brother of P-Square members Peter and Paul Okoye, has alleged that his younger brother, Jude Okoye, is withholding a 20 per cent share of royalties he was promised from the music duo’s songs.

Henry made the allegation during his first public interview on the long-running family dispute surrounding the twin brothers and their former manager, Jude.

According to him, he financially supported Peter and Paul from the early stages of their music career and was promised 20 per cent of the royalties from their songs in return for his sponsorship.

Henry, however, claimed that he never received the agreed share despite the duo eventually becoming successful.

“Before they started, Paul and Peter promised me 20 per cent of each of their songs’ royalties,” he said.

“I’m the sponsor of P-Square from the time they started until they started making money. When they started, they promised me 20 per cent on each of their music.”

Henry said he later confronted the brothers after noticing that the money he had allegedly been promised was not forthcoming.

“No, nobody has given me. After two or three years, I asked them why I had not been seeing the agreed 20 per cent that they said they would give me as the sponsor who was putting money into their career growth and development,” he said.

He claimed that the issue subsequently became a source of confrontation with Jude, who, according to him, questioned the basis of the 20 per cent arrangement.

“Before I knew it, Jude got up and asked what I meant by 20 per cent and for what purpose,” Henry alleged.

Henry further claims

He further claimed that Jude became involved in the management of P-Square after the group had already begun gaining recognition and subsequently pushed other family members away from the duo.

“I told him, ‘Jude, you were not there when we started P-Square, but you came later and tried to chase everybody away.’ And he did it,” Henry said.

Henry also alleged that Jude’s involvement affected other members of the family who had contributed to P-Square’s development.

He mentioned Tony Okoye, another brother who was involved with P-Square as a dancer, claiming that Tony had subsequently become disconnected from the group despite being based in Lagos.

“Tony Okoye, the immediate elder brother of P-Square, was one of their dancers. Tony is in Lagos, but nobody is hearing about him. This is the first time I’m coming out on social media,” he said.

Henry further alleged that their younger sister, Mary, was also prevented from benefiting from opportunities associated with the music group.

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“Our last-born, Mary, is also in Lagos, but Jude did not let them get help from P-Square,” he alleged.

The latest claims add another layer to the highly publicised dispute involving the Okoye family.

Previous accusations

Peter Okoye had previously accused his twin brother, Paul, and Jude of alleged betrayal, maltreatment and diversion of P-Square royalties. Jude denied the allegations and subsequently took Peter to court in connection with his use of P-Square songs.

The controversy has continued to attract reactions from Nigerians and celebrities, with supporters of the estranged brothers weighing in on the dispute.

Henry’s latest disclosure, however, introduces his own alleged financial grievance, with the 20 per cent royalty arrangement becoming a central part of his account of the family’s internal conflict.

The allegations remain Henry Okoye’s account of events, and the parties accused have not, in the material available, independently confirmed his claims regarding the alleged 20 per cent royalty agreement.