In response to the two lawsuits filed against the Nigerian singer David Adedeji Adeleke, fondly known as Davido, a Delta State High Court in Effurun has dismissed the preliminary objections raised by the singer.
The first objection, relating to a breach of contract suit filed by Amaju Pinnick and Brownhill Investment Company Limited over the ‘Warri Again Concert,’ was rejected. The second objection, concerning the defamation case filed against Davido and Israel Afeare by Amaju Pinnick, was also dismissed.
In the ruling on the suit marked EHC/183/2023 between Brownhill Investments Company Limited and Davido & Davido Music Worldwide Limited, centred on breach of contract, the court disagreed with the defendant’s argument that it was a debt recovery case.
The court stated that the claimant’s failure to issue a letter of demand requesting a refund did not render the case premature.
The court emphasized that the reliefs sought in the writ of summons indicated a breach of contract, and no letter of demand was necessary before filing the suit.
Concerning the defamation case, the court affirmed its territorial jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter. This was established by the claimant, who resides in Delta State, being present in the state when the defendants posted the alleged defamatory statements online. The court maintained jurisdiction as the claimant also viewed the online defamatory statements while still in the state.
