N2.3Billion Suit: More troubles for Davido as he agrees to pay N30M to Amaju Pinnick

• Nigerian singer Davido has agreed to settle a breach of contract lawsuit with Brownhill Investment Company Limited through an out-of-court settlement.

• The singer has decided to resolve the dispute outside of the courtroom.

• Davido has agreed to pay N30 million to the claimant as part of the consent judgment entered in a N2 billion lawsuit against him.

• Davido has committed to making a partial payment towards the claimant’s outstanding legal fees within seven days of the settlement terms being executed.

Popular Nigerian artist David Adedeji Adeleke, also known as Davido, has agreed to settle an out-of-court breach of contract case filed against him by Amaju Pinnick-led Brownhill Investment Company Limited.

The singer has decided to resolve the disagreement outside of court.

As part of the consent judgement made in a N2 billion case filed against him, Davido has agreed to pay the claimant N30 million.

This payment is a partial payment towards the claimant’s outstanding legal bills. Davido has pledged to making the payment within seven days of the settlement’s implementation.

In February, a Delta State High Court in Effurun dismissed Davido’s appeal for a stay of proceedings in Brownhill Investment Company Limited’s N2 billion case against him over the yearly ‘Warri Again Concert’.

According to reports, Brownhill Investment Company Limited informed the court in November 2023 that Davido met with its chairman, Amaju Pinnick, earlier that year at Abuja’s Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. During the encounter, Davido allegedly made a specific request to play at the company’s huge event.

According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters regarding the current case, Brownhill Investment Company Limited indicated that its chairman was “hesitant” to award Davido the contract, noting Davido’s previous disappointments on two separate occasions.

The corporation further informed the court that the singer signed all agreement paperwork after insisting on full payment, and that the performance agreement had been finalised and sealed.

According to the court documents, the agreement was dated March 30, 2023.

The firm said that instead, the singer attended another event scheduled for the same date at “Lux Nightclub, Melbourne, 373 Chapel St. South Yarra, Australia.”

On November 1, 2023, the claimant, represented by Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem, sought N2 billion in general damages from Davido and his music company, Davido Music Worldwide Limited.

The claimant is also demanding N150 million in legal and professional fees, as well as an extra N30 million to cover the cost of filing the complaint.

The defendants in the complaint are David Adeleke, better known as Davido, and his music label, Davido Music Worldwide Limited.

At Thursday’s hearing, Davido’s counsel, Mr. Norrison Quakers (SAN), informed the court that an appeal was ongoing and that the defendants had filed a plea for a stay of proceedings.

Quakers further told the court that the defendants had been served with a copy of the claimant’s reply affidavit to the petition for a stay.

However, he moved to withdraw the suit, claiming that the Court of Appeal had acquired control of the lower court’s proceedings.

However, the claimant’s counsel, Onwuegbuchulem, did not contest the move to withdraw the motion, and the court allowed it accordingly.

The court upheld the claimant’s position, stating that until the Court of Appeal issues an order suspending further proceedings, the High Court will proceed with the case.

The court also allowed a request on notice to regularise the claimant’s response to the statement of defence and ordered that Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) forms be filed within 14 days in compliance with the court’s procedures.

The court then scheduled a pre-trial conference for March 21, 2024.