Talented musician David Adeleke aka Davido has filed a preliminary objection to challenge N2.3 billion lawsuit slammed on him by former NFF President Amaju Pinnick.
Recall that Pinnick through his company Brownhill Investments Company Limited had filed the N2.3 billion suit before the High Court of Delta State, Effurun, against Davido and his music label, Davido Music Worldwide Limited, over alleged breach of contract.
Pinnick, who filed the suit through his counsel, Kelechi Onwuegbuchulem is also demanding an apology from the musician for failing to attend the show.
The ex-NFF boss is seeking an order directing the defendants jointly and/or severally to tender a public apology on all the 1st defendant’s social media accounts/handles and in two national daily newspapers for four consecutive days is also asking the court to award N2 billion as general damages against Davido.
The claimant is praying the court to award against Davido the sum of N150m as legal and professional fees and an additional sum of N30m as the cost of filing the suit.
The claimant also wants the court to order the DMW Boss “to tender a public apology on all the 1st defendant’s social media accounts/handles and in two national daily newspapers for four consecutive days, to the claimant and attendees.”
At the resumed hearing of the suit today, November 27, Davido through his counsel filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter.
READ ALSO: Amaju Pinnick accuses Davido and his aide of stealing, defamation
In his preliminary objection, Davido through his team of lawyers led by Norrison Quakers (SAN) Senior Advocates of Nigeria premised his response on the grounds that the case is a debt recovery matter and that the claimant ought to have written a letter of demand first before rushing to court.
He further claimed that music executive Sosoberokon is not his agent and does not negotiate performance contracts on his behalf.
He claimed that he was not paid for the show and that Soso is not his agent, he however admitted receiving the payment of $94,500 but stated that the sum was payment for only promotion of the show.
In a related case bordering on criminal defamation, Davido’s legal team also filed a preliminary objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court on the grounds that the defamatory statements were published online but the claimant did not show that the defamatory statements were downloaded and viewed in Delta State to give the court jurisdiction.
Both cases were later adjourned to December 14, 2023, by the presiding judge for the court to rule on preliminary objections filed in both cases filed by Amaju Pinnick.
