Former Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, has initiated a legal action against popular singer Davido, alleging a breach of an agreement they had entered into.
This lawsuit was formally filed in the Delta State High Court located in Effurun, and it is being pursued on behalf of Mr. Pinnick by Brownhill Investments Company Limited, the organizers of the annual Warri Again Concert.
In this legal action, the claimant, represented by their legal counsel, Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem, is seeking general damages amounting to N2 billion to be awarded by the court. This sum is to be levied against both Davido and his music label, Davido Music Worldwide Limited, as compensation for the alleged breach.
Additionally, Mr. Pinnick’s legal team is requesting the court to order Davido to pay N150 million as legal and professional fees. Furthermore, they are seeking an extra N30 million to cover the costs associated with filing and pursuing this lawsuit.
It also wants the court to order the singer “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.”
In its statement of claim, the claimant stated that sometime in early 2023, Davido approached Pinnick, when they met 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.
The claimant said Pinnick was hesitant to grant the request, he eventually did and they agreed on N70m as Davido’s performance fee.
It said that thereafter, the sum of US$94,500.00 (an equivalent of N70m) was paid on April 6, 2023, and the same was duly acknowledged by the defendants.
It said after the payment, Davido did a promotional video ahead of the event but he eventually failed to show up on the day of the event.
The claimant stated that it expended humongous resources on print and social media adverts and promotions for the event, adding that on September 29, 2023, precisely a week before the slated date of the event, a formal letter of reminder was sent to the Davido in respect of the event, which contained flight itinerary of the private jet chartered to personally convey him and his team to and from Warri, Delta State for the event, thereby incurring additional expenses of $18,000.
It stated, however, that all attempts to reach Davido and his team on the day of the event, October 6, 2023, were futile, adding that it kept the private jet chartered to convey Davido and his team to Warri at the airport in Lagos on standby should they eventually show up.
Consequently, Pinnick’s company is asking for the payment of $94,500 as full payment for engaging the services of Davido.
