By Milcah Tanimu
For nearly a decade, iconic Nigerian music duo P-Square has faced family and business-related disputes. Recently, a new conflict erupted, with Paul Okoye (Rudeboy) accusing his twin, Peter Okoye (Mr. P), of stealing the song “Winning.”
On social media, Rudeboy claimed ownership, posting a demo version of the track and accusing Mr. P of recreating it word-for-word. Mr. P, however, defended himself, asserting that he co-wrote the song and paid for the production as part of a potential P-Square reunion album.
Intellectual Property Lawyer Barrister Olanrewaju Bello weighed in, noting that Nigeria’s Copyright Act protects sound recordings. He explained that the law prohibits commercial releases of a song without the copyright owner’s permission. Without an agreement assigning sole ownership to Mr. P, Rudeboy’s infringement claims hold weight. In a similar case, African Songs Ltd. v. King Sunny Ade, the court ruled it illegal to commercially exploit a musical work without the owner’s authorization.
To prove his case, Rudeboy would need to demonstrate sole ownership of the song. He could use the demo version as initial evidence. Meanwhile, Mr. P claims he co-wrote and produced the track, adding complexity to the ownership dispute. Only a court could fully resolve these competing claims.
Barrister Bello advised that both parties formally dissolve P-Square as a business entity and negotiate a fair distribution of their catalog and assets. Without legal agreements, disputes like this one are likely to continue.
If Rudeboy believes Mr. P breached his intellectual property rights, he could file a takedown notice or take legal action. Mr. P has accused Rudeboy on X (formerly Twitter) of trying to remove the song.
