Nigerian Afrobeats singer Davido has given Kenya’s Mediamax’s K24 TV 48 hours to tender an unreserved apology, admit liability for defaming the singer, and compensate him appropriately for his attorney fees and costs or risk being dragged to court.
This was contained in a pre-suit letter, in which the singer served Kenya’s K24 TV over a Fool’s Day report alleging his arrest at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
The piece carried on K24 digital platform splashed under the headline “Davido detained at JKIA after Sh18 million cocaine haul found in his private jet.”
In a notice by Conrad Law Advocates yesterday, Davido faulted the publication, while demanding an unreserved apology.
The singer noted that the allegations were injurious to his reputation and constituted a breach of his reputation personal and professional.
“The statements found in your article are blatantly false and published with the express intent of disparaging our client,” the singer’s advocates stated.
“Your statements are false and affect our client’s professional reputation by falsely stating that Davido was arrested for drug-related offenses,” the law firm asserted.
The firm asked Mediamax’s K24 TV to cease publication of defaming statements towards him, offer an apology, admit liability for defaming the singer, and compensate him for his attorney fees and costs.
Davido’s lawyers insisted that they will proceed to file a suit within 48 hours if their demands are unmet.
The notice surfaced hours after Davido responded to the cocaine allegations in a statement on his social media platforms, defending himself as a law-abiding individual.
Screenshots of the original post, which appears to have been deleted, purportedly show that the story received around 341,000 views before it was removed.
Davido, who is regarded as one of the world’s most influential Afrobeats artists alongside Burna Boy and Wizkid, performed to audiences at his “Timeless” concert in Kampala and Raha Fest in Nairobi.