Nigerian superstar Davido is facing legal heat in the U.S. after being slapped with a 21-day deadline to appear before the District Court in Manhattan over allegations of intellectual property theft.
According to court documents, four Nigerian artists—Martins Chukwuka Emmanuel, Abel Great Umaru, Kelvin Ayodele Campbell, and David Ovhioghena Umaru—are accusing the singer of stealing their 2022 song “Work” to create his 2024 track “Strawberry on Ice.”
The drama started when the plaintiffs shared their demo with Davido for a potential collab. But instead of collaborating, they claim Davido handed the song to Emmerson, who allegedly sampled their work without permission. The track was later released under Wynn Records, with Emmerson and several producers named as co-defendants.
To settle the issue, Davido reportedly agreed in March to pay $45,000 and hand over a share of royalties—40% of the composition and 20% of the recording. But he missed the March 24 deadline, prompting the artists to file an official lawsuit on April 4.
Now, the court is giving Davido 21 days to show up or risk further legal action. The plaintiffs are asking for $150,000 in damages, copyright transfers, and an injunction to block any further infringement.
Looks like “Strawberry on Ice” just turned into a legal firestorm.
