Brownhill Investments Company Limited, the organizers of the annual 'Warri Again Concert,' have filed a N2.3bn lawsuit against hip-hop artist David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, for an alleged breach of agreement/contract.
Brownhill Investments Company Limited, owned by Mr Amaju Pinnick, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, filed the EHC/183/2023 suit before the Delta State High Court in Effurun.
The claimant, represented by Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem, is requesting that the court award N2 billion in general damages to Davido and his music label, Davido Music Worldwide Limited.
The claimant is asking the court to award him N150 million in legal and professional fees, as well as N30 million for the cost of filing the suit.
It is also seeking an order from the court compelling the performer "to tender a public apology on all the 1st defendant's social media accounts/handles and in two national daily newspapers for four consecutive days, to the claimant and attendees."
The claimant stated in its statement of claim that sometime in early 2023, Davido approached Pinnick at the Abuja Airport and asked to be engaged for the 19th edition of the 'Warri Again Concert' event to be held on October 6, 2023.
According to the claimant, Pinnick was hesitant to grant the request at first, but he eventually did, and they agreed on N70 million as Davido's performance fee.It went on to say that on April 6, 2023, a total of US$94,500.00 (the equivalent of N70m) was paid, which the defendants duly acknowledged.
According to the report, Davido did a promotional video ahead of the event after receiving payment, but he did not appear on the day of the event.
The claimant stated that it spent a lot of money on print and social media ads and promotions for the event, and that on September 29, 2023, exactly a week before the event, a formal letter of reminder was sent to Davido, which included the flight itinerary of the private jet chartered to personally transport him and his team to and from Warri, Delta State for the event thereby incurring an extra $18000.
It added, however, that all efforts to get in contact with Davido and his group on October 6, 2023, the day of the event, were ineffective, and that the private jet that was scheduled to transport Davido and his group to Warri at the Lagos Airport was kept available in case they did not show up.
In light of this, Pinnick's business is requesting $94,500 in full payment for Davido's services.
