A Delta State High Court sitting in Effurun has dismissed the preliminary objection by Nigerian-American singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and his company, Davido Music Worldwide Limited, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear and determine the breach of contract suit against him by Brownhill Investment Company Limited over the annual ‘Warri Again Concert’.
Trial judge, Justice Nduka Obi, also dismissed another objection by Davido Music Worldwide and Israel Afeare, challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the defamation case filed against them.
In its ruling in Suit No. EHC/183/2023 between Brownhill Investment Company Limited vs. Davido & Davido Music Worldwide Limited bordering on breach of contract, the court dismissed the arguments by the defendants that the matter was a debt recovery case and premature since the claimant failed to issue a letter of demand requesting for a refund of monies claimed in the case.
It agreed with the submissions of the claimant’s counsel that the reliefs sought in the writ of summons must be read jointly and cannot be read in isolation to determine the nature of the suit.
The court held that the reliefs sought in the suit showed clearly that the matter was a breach of contract action which does not require the issuance of any letter of demand before filing and/or instituting same.
In the sister case bordering on defamation, the court held that the High Court of Delta State has territorial jurisdiction to hear and determine the two cases bordering on defamation as it was established that the claimant, who is a resident of Delta State, was present in the state at the time the defendants posted the alleged defamatory publications online and also viewed the online defamatory statements whilst still in the state.
The court has adjourned to hear all the cases filed against the defendants.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that when the idea of an out-of-court settlement of the matter was mooted in court, counsel to the defendants said efforts were in top gear to resolve the case.
However, the claimant noted that no concrete arrangements had been made because the defendants wanted the out-of-court settlement to be on their terms, a decision they rejected.
The claimant, Brownhill Investments Company Limited had through its lawyer, Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem in a suit, prayed the court to award N2 billion (over $150 million) as general damages against Davido.
Selling Out London’s O2 Arena Again
Nigerian Afrobeats powerhouse Davido has cemented his global dominance by once again selling out the illustrious O2 Arena in London, ahead of his monumental headline concert on January 28, 2024.
This announcement by The O2 on X confirms Davido’s place as a true titan of international music, capable of captivating massive audiences on the world’s biggest stages.
The upcoming sold-out show at the 20,000-capacity O2 Arena marks another pivotal chapter in Davido’s meteoric rise. It builds upon his historic 2019 achievement of becoming the first Nigerian solo artist to achieve this feat, further solidifying his status as a pioneer and legend of the Afrobeats movement.
This latest triumph is part of Davido’s “Timeless Tour,” which kicked off in 2023 following the release of his record-breaking fourth album, aptly titled “Timeless.”
The tour has already seen him wow audiences across the globe, showcasing his electrifying stage presence and genre-bending sound.
But Davido’s ambitions extend beyond sold-out arenas. January 2024 also holds the potential for Grammy glory, with the artist nominated for three prestigious awards: Best African Song Performance (“Unavailable”), Best Global Song Performance (“Feel”), and Best Global Album (“Timeless”).
If victorious, these accolades would mark a monumental moment for Afrobeats and propel Davido even further into the international spotlight.
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