U.S. court summons Davido over alleged theft and $45,000 debt, gives deadline

The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York has issued a 21-day ultimatum to Davido for an alleged intellectual theft.

According to report from the People’s Gazzette, Davido was sued by a group of four Nigerian artistes, Martins Chukwuka Emmanuel, Abel Great Umaru, Kelvin Ayodele Campbell and David Ovhioghena Umaru, accusing Davido of stealing their 2022 song ‘Work’, which he used for his song titled “Strawberry on Ice” in 2024.

Davido was sued alongside the artists he featured on the song; Emmerson, featured on the musician’s song, Carlos Jenkins, Matthew Quinney, Marques Miles II and Wynn Records, the record label.

According to reports from People’s Gazette, the plaintiff took his spot titled “Work” to Davido for a possible collaboration.

However, Davido took the song to Emmerson, who proceeded to steal and sample individual recorded instrumental and vocal elements of the ‘Work’ to create their own version “Strawberry on Ice.’’

The plaintiffs reportedly reached out to Davido and his team group and he agreed to pay a lump sum of $45,000 in settlement on March 14, 2025, court documents showed.

Davido also agreed to give the plaintiffs 40 per cent of royalties for the underlying composition of “Strawberry on Ice” and 20 per cent royalties for sound recording of the song.

However, Davido failed to fulfill the terms of the agreement despite promising to pay before a March 24 deadline agreed upon by all parties

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