Why Court Dismissed Davido’s No-Case Submission

Barely four months after Nigerian singer Davido was paid by Amaju Pinnick and Brownhill Investment Company Limited to perform at the annual ‘Warri Again’ concert but failed to show up at the event, Justice Nduka Obi of Delta State High Court in Effurun, on January 18, 2024, dismissed the no-case submission filed by Davido, and his record label, Davido Music Worldwide.

According to the case filed against Davido, he was paid N70 million to perform at the event in October of last year but failed to show up at the event despite being paid in full. 

During the event, Amaju Pinnick, the owner of Brownhill Investment Company Limited, revealed that Davido was paid a huge amount of money but refused to show up, and the organisers will take legal action over the matter.

On November 1, 2023, the organisers sued the music star as they demanded N2.3 billion in damages for breaching the contract. Brownhill Investment revealed that the breach of contract affected them financially as they had spent money on adverts and promotions for the event and also had to charter a private jet for Davido and his team to transport them to the venue.

Currently, the Delta State High Court has dismissed the case on the grounds that Davido is still guilty of the charges against him.

The dismissal of Davido’s no-case submission implies that the court finds that there is adequate and a legal basis to continue with the trial against him.

When a defendant files a no-case submission, they are seeking the case without it going to trial. 

As a result of the dismissal of Davido’s no-case submission, the trial will proceed as planned, with Davido being at risk of paying N2.3 billion in settlement. At the trial, both the prosecution and the defence will have an opportunity to present their respective cases.

This is not the first time a music star has been held accountable for missing a concert. In August 2022, Kizz Daniel was detained for missing a concert in Tanzania, after his release, he threw a free concert as an apology.

Whichever way Davido’s proceedings go, this incident will set a precedence for both show promoters and artistes alike.