“They Ate and Ran”: Jude Okoye Blasts Former Label Mates in Explosive Rant About Betrayal and Broken Loyalty

Nigerian music executive and elder brother to the famed Psquare duo, Jude Okoye, has stirred the hornet's nest with a no-holds-barred outburst that seems to target some of the most prominent names he once mentored and supported through his now-silent Northside Inc. and Square Records platforms. Without naming names directly, the message in his recent post was unmistakably laced with hints pointed at the likes of Cynthia Morgan, Peter Okoye, and possibly others who were once under his guidance but have since parted ways in controversial and bitter circumstances.

In what reads like the boiling-over of long-held resentment, Jude painted a picture of betrayal cloaked in ambition, of protégés who grew wings and flew — only to crash spectacularly after biting the very hand that fed them. “They all have one thing in common: They were big, influential and successful when I was shouldering them with my platform until they got greedy and wanted to eat alone and so left,” he wrote in the fiery Instagram post that has since gone viral.

The timing and tone of the statement struck many as a final straw, a man tired of playing the silent villain in narratives crafted by former allies turned public critics. The music mogul didn’t hold back in revealing what he sees as the hypocrisy of artists who once sang his praises, only to later blame him for their career declines. According to Jude, these artists never raised complaints while enjoying the benefits of his platform. Instead, they basked in their success, only to become disillusioned when faced with the harsh realities of independence.

“They never complained afterwards. Rather they bragged about their ‘new found freedom’ and ‘making it all on their own’,” he wrote. “Years down the line they fell off the wagon and became broke and instead of accepting responsibility and accountability for their choices, they are pointing fingers at the same person they left for their ‘freedom’.”

The post seemed to be dripping with a decade’s worth of quiet anger and frustration — the kind that builds over time when one is constantly made to play the scapegoat for others’ failures. Jude likened the behavior to madness, criticizing the inability of these former label mates to specify exactly what wrong he committed that justified the post-departure accusations. “They can’t specifically mention what wrongs were done to them, how and where,” he added, doubling down on his claim that the accusations are more about public sentiment than factual wrongdoing.

The music industry in Nigeria has seen its fair share of dramatic fallouts, but the saga between Jude Okoye and his former artists has been particularly riveting. From the infamous Psquare split — in which Peter Okoye accused Jude of mismanagement and stifling control — to Cynthia Morgan’s public breakdown and accusations of being ruined by her record deal under Jude’s Northside Inc., the shadow of controversy has lingered for years. Jude’s post, though veiled, reads as a direct counter-narrative to those past accusations.

He accused the former artists of not just betrayal, but of attempting to criminalize him in an effort to coerce him into submission. “They concocted and fabricated lies, attached money laundry and fraud to my name to get me jailed in order for me to break down within days and submit to their demands,” he wrote, recalling what he described as a two-month ordeal that he “sat out.” It’s a serious accusation — one that hints at how far gone the trust once shared has disintegrated.

In one of the most telling parts of his rant, Jude mockingly addressed the alleged financial desperation of these artists: “Una dey find money when una don chop finish,” he wrote in Pidgin English — a streetwise jab that translates roughly to “You’re now looking for money after finishing what you already ate.” The implication here is damning: that these artists made money, enjoyed their time in the spotlight, and only returned with grievances after the fame and fortune ran out.

This isn’t the first time Jude has responded to controversy, but it’s certainly the most visceral and unapologetic. In past interviews, he often maintained a reserved posture, letting the artists tell their side of the story while occasionally correcting the record with minimal drama. This time, however, it appears the gloves are off. His tone is neither conciliatory nor defensive — it is assertive, emboldened by what he clearly believes is the truth and his own sense of vindication.

The music industry, especially in Africa, is built on shaky partnerships, opaque contracts, and emotional fallouts. While fans often rally behind the more visible faces — the singers, dancers, and performers — the architects behind the scenes are usually left to suffer the slings of public opinion with little opportunity to defend themselves. Jude’s post is a rare moment of that defense: messy, raw, and brutally honest.

Whether or not this post will ignite another round of public counterattacks from the artists in question remains to be seen. But one thing is certain — Jude Okoye is done staying silent. His message is clear: if you danced while the music was sweet, don’t cry when the speakers are gone. The industry, he implies, owes you nothing beyond the choices you made when the spotlight was yours to keep or waste.

As the dust from this viral rant settles, the larger question lingers — in a world where loyalty is often transactional, where does mentorship end and entitlement begin? Jude Okoye may not have answered that directly, but he’s certainly reminded everyone that success is borrowed, not owned — and when the rent is due, the music stops for everyone.