The High Court in Delta State has declined Davido’s request for a stay of proceedings in the breach of contract case. The lawsuit stems from his absence at the Warri Again event.
Brownhill Investment Company Limited, organizers of the annual Warri Again event, has filed a lawsuit seeking 2 billion naira in general damages against Davido for alleged breach of contract, citing his failure to appear at the 2023 Warri Again event.
As part of supplementary requests to the court, the claimant is seeking N150 million for legal and professional fees, along with an extra N30 million to cover the expenses of filing the lawsuit.
Davido’s legal representative, Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN, submitted an application for a stay of proceedings, urging the court to pause the lawsuit due to its current pendency before the Court of Appeal, a superior court of record.
The court, in a bench ruling, declined the application, stating that the High Court would proceed with the case until an order to stay further proceedings is obtained from the Court of Appeal.
The court approved the motion on notice to formalize the claimant’s response to the statement of defense. It further instructed the filing of Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) forms within 14 days according to court rules. The case has been adjourned to March 21, 2024, for a pre-trial conference.
Davido’s legal team had previously sought to dismiss the case by challenging the court’s jurisdiction, arguing that the action should be brought before a court in Effurun. Nevertheless, the court rejected the preliminary objection.
Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, representing Brownhill Investment Company Limited, informed attendees during the event that Davido, despite receiving a substantial down payment and a chartered private jet, failed to fulfill the contractual obligation for performance.
Davido responded on social media, asserting that the Warri Again event coincided with his concert in New Zealand. He claimed the organizers were well-informed about the scheduling conflict but chose to use his image to promote the Warri Again event.
