Delta State High Court Rejects Davido’s Jurisdiction Challenge in Breach of Contract Case

The Delta State High Court in Effurun has dismissed the preliminary objection filed by Nigerian-American singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, widely known as Davido, and his company, Davido Music Worldwide Limited. The objection challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the breach of contract suit brought against them by Brownhill Investment Company Limited, concerning the annual ‘Warri Again Concert.’

Justice Nduka Obi, presiding over the case, also rejected another objection raised by Davido Music Worldwide and Israel Afeare regarding the court’s jurisdiction to handle a defamation case filed against them.

In the case (Suit No. EHC/183/2023) involving breach of contract, the court dismissed the defendants’ argument that it was a debt recovery case and premature due to the absence of a demand letter for a refund. The judge agreed with the claimant’s counsel, emphasizing that the reliefs sought in the writ of summons indicated a clear breach of contract, exempting the need for a prior demand letter.

Regarding the defamation case, the court determined that the High Court of Delta State had territorial jurisdiction to address both defamation cases. It established that the claimant, a resident of Delta State, was present in the state when the defendants posted the alleged defamatory publications online.

The court has scheduled further hearings for all cases against the defendants. Reports suggest that the option of an out-of-court settlement was proposed during the proceedings, but no concrete arrangements have been made, as the defendants allegedly seek terms that the claimant finds unacceptable.

Brownhill Investment Company Limited, through its legal representative Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem, seeks N2 billion in general damages against Davido in the ongoing legal dispute.