Pinnick Petitions Police, Accuses Davido, Logistics Manager of Defamation

Wale Igbintade

The last has certainly not been heard on the ongoing dispute between the organisers of the annual ‘Warri Again Concert’, and the Nigerian-American superstar singer, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido as the Chairman of Brownhill Investment Company Limited and its Chairman, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, have petitioned the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, accusing Davido and his Logistics Manager of stealing and defamation respectively.

They had also instituted a N2.3 billion suit before the High Court of Delta State, Effurun, against Davido over alleged breach of agreement/contract.

The petitioners, in their petitions sighted by THISDAY and written by Osaruyi Ayela-Uwangue from A.O Alegeh & Co, the law firm of the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Augustine Alegeh (SAN), urged the police to investigate, alleged criminal action of Davido with a view to prosecuting him.

The petitioner said that it discovered that, Davido despite collecting payment of the sum of $94,500, and compelling the organisers of ‘Warri Again Concert’ to incur additional expenses of $18,000 for a private jet to take him to Warri, had also collected payment in respect of an event slated for the same date at Lux Nightclub Melbourne, 373 Chapel St South Yarra, Australia.

The petitioner stated that Davido eventually performed at the event in Chapel St South Yarra, Australia, while ignoring ‘Warri Again’ event. 

It state: “It’s clear that Davido acted criminally in collecting payment for two events on the same date in two different continents. It is also clear that at the time he obtained the sum of $94,500 from our client under the false pretense of performing at the ‘Warri Again’ event, he actually acted criminally as he had no intention to showing up to perform at the event.

“Davido’s criminal conduct is further confirmed by the following facts:  Refusal to respond to Our Client’s Letter of Reminder dated 29th September, 2023. His statement that he will not refund the payment collected from our client. The fact that he has already planned a similar event for Warri in December 2023.

“We humbly request that you use your good offices to investigate, the criminal action of Mr, David Adeleke a.k.a Davido, in respect of his criminal act of defrauding Our Client with a view to prosecuting him for same.”

In another petition written against Davido’s Personal Logistics Manager, Mr. Israel Afeare a.k.a Israeldmw, the petitioner alleged that Afeare via his social media handle posted several criminally defamatory and false statements, allegations and narratives against former President of the Nigerian Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

Israel was said to have through false posts alleged that Mr. Pinnick lied about his company fully meeting the contractual obligations and payments to secure Davido’s performance at ‘Warri Again’ event held on October 6, 2023.

He was said to have posted “Where’s the money collected by you from FIFA, to build a befitting stadium for the same Warri people till today.”

The petitioner stated that “The direct/indirect import, meaning and innuendos of the afore-referenced false and defamatory posts are that our client lied about his company fully meeting the contractual obligations and payments to secure Davido’s performance at ‘Warri Again’ event held on 6th October, 2023.

“That our client is a thief and person of questionable character, who stole money supposedly given by FIFA to build a stadium in Warri.

“That our client stole billions of naira approved by FIFA to build Escravos Stadium and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) should look into him”.

The petitioner added that Amaju Pinnick is has been receiving calls from respected Nigerian and international persons since the unwarranted criminal defamation, harassment, cyber bullying and blackmail by Isrealdmw.

“Our client has been maligned, his reputation damaged and his estimation has been eroded and reduced in the eyes of right thinking members of the society.

“Our client has suffered severe irreparable reputational damage. Isrealdmw has a large followership of over 770,000 followers on Instagram and is very popular on social media.

“These incendiary and criminally defamatory statements were circulated by Isrealdmw on his Instagram account to his followers who believe and accept all his statements by virtue of his close affiliation to Davido.

“Consequently, these defamatory posts have put the lives of our client and his immediate family in grave danger and threat of physical bodily harm, injury and attacks, as they have been subjected to all forms of cyber bullying, stalking and harassment since the posts were made.

“They now live in fear of their lives in view of Isrealdmw’s large following and engagements on social media. We write to formally report the criminal conduct of Isrealdmw and humbly request, that you use your good office to investigate and prosecute the criminal actions of Isrealdmw which has now gravely endangered the lives of our client and his immediate family and exposed them to threats of physical bodily harm, injury and attacks”.

Efforts to reach the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin on the issue proved abortive as he busied the call.

He later sent an SMS which read: “Sorry I can’t take this call right now. For complaints about police action, call 08090277714, 08090277712, 08090277711, 08090277713, 09111111151, 09111991116, 09111111150. Or send a text.”

But by the terms of the performance agreement signed with between the petitioner and Davido on March 30, 2023, it was agreed that in the event of a cancellation or postponement due to the willful negligence or intention of the artiste, any deposits paid directly would refunded within 14 days of the event date.

The agreement sighted by THISDAY, also stated that the artiste, in the event of a cancellation or postponement, would be required to pay for every other losses incurred from his actions or inactions.

Specifically, Clause 2.8, tagged: ‘Obligation in the Event of Cancellation for Wilful Negligence’, states: “In the event of a cancellation or postponement due to the willful negligence or intention of the artiste, the artiste agrees to refund any deposits paid directly to the purchaser, within 14 days of the event date passing and the artiste will be required to pay for every other losses incurred from his actions or inactions.”

THISDAY also gathered that there are also pressure on Pinnick from his international partners to file suits in the United States against Davido and his associates for alleged fraud and cyber-bullying.

Responding to the disagreement between Pinnick and Davido, a music industry analyst, Femi Adenekan, said the music industry which has brought so much recognition to Nigeria, needs to be sanitised  before it is brought to disrepute.

“We need to set records straight, the music industry has given Nigeria a lot of global recognition and prestige, and it needs to be sanitised before the industry is brought to serious disrepute. I am sure to saw you saw Rema’s moment of magic at the Ballon d’Or last weekend when he performed to the administration of the global audience? That is how it should be. That is the importance the entire world attaches to Nigerian music. Even Burna Boy performed at the FIFA World Cup last year and held the world spellbound. We cannot have people destroy the industry.

“We cannot have artistes continue to collect money from people to perform and not show up. They will bring the industry down and further destroy the image of Nigeria and Nigerians.”