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Alleged breach of contract: Court declines Davido’s application for stay of proceedings
The High Court sitting in Delta State has declined Davido’s application for a stay of proceedings in the breach of contract case filed against the music sensation following his absence at the Warri Again event.
Brownhill Investment Company Limited, the organizers of the annual Warri Again event, brought the case to court, seeking 2 billion naira in general damages over Davido’s alleged breach of contract when he failed to fulfill his appearance commitment at the 2023 Warri Again event.
In addition to the damages, the claimant also requested N150 million for legal and professional fees, along with an extra N30 million to cover the costs of filing the lawsuit.
Davido’s lawyer, Mr. Norrison Quakers, SAN, sought a stay of proceedings, urging the court to halt the lawsuit on the grounds that the case was already before the Court of Appeal, a superior court of record.
However, the court dismissed the application, asserting that proceedings would continue in the absence of an order from the Court of Appeal staying further actions in the case.
Furthermore, the court granted a motion on notice to allow the claimant to regularize their reply to the statement of defense. It also directed both parties to file Pre-Trial Conference (PTC) forms within 14 days in accordance with court rules. The case was adjourned to March 21, 2024, for a pre-trial conference.
Previously, Davido’s legal team had attempted to challenge the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case, arguing that it should have been filed in a court in Effurun. However, the court rejected this preliminary objection.
Recall that former NFF President Amaju Pinnick of Brownhill Investment Company Limited told the attendees during the event that Davido failed to honour the contract of performance despite being paid thousands of dollars in down payment and a private jet chartered to convey him to Warri.
Davido replied on social media by claiming that the show clashed with his concert in New Zealand and that the Warri Again organisers were fully aware of the situation but elected to use his image to promote the event.