U.S. court gives Davido 21 days to respond to copyright lawsuit

• Davido has been accused of copyright infringement over an alleged song theft
• The plaintiffs demanded $150,000 in damages and 40 percent of the song’s compositional rights
• This has triggered widespread reactions from netizens 

Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has been summoned by the U.S. District Court in Manhattan to respond to allegations of copyright infringement within 21 days.

The lawsuit, filed on April 4, was brought by four Nigerian artiste, Martins Chukwuka Emmanuel, Abel Great Umaru, Kelvin Ayodele Campbell, and David Ovhioghena Umaru. They alleged that Davido appropriated their 2022 track, "Work," to produce his single, "Strawberry on Ice," which was release in 2024.

Also named in the lawsuit are Sierra Leonean artiste Emmerson (Emmerson Amidu Bockarie), who collaborated with Davido on the contested song, Carlos Jenkins, Matthew Quinney, Marques Miles II, and Wynn Records, the entity responsible for the publishing and distribution of Strawberry on Ice.

According to court filings, the plaintiffs had originally approached Davido in January 2022 to discuss a possible collaboration on Work. 

However, they claimed that instead of collaborating, Davido forwarded their track to Emmerson, who allegedly used its vocals and instrumentation to craft Strawberry on Ice without securing permission.

After several months of attempting to settle the dispute privately, the plaintiffs disclosed that Davido had agreed to a resolution on March 14, 2025. 

The agreement entailed a payment of $45,000 and a proposed division of royalties, 40% for songwriting and 20% for recording. 

Yet, it is claimed that Davido did not fulfil this agreement. 

Consequently, the plaintiffs are now seeking $150,000 in damages and formal recognition of their rights: 40% of the composition rights and 20% of the recording rights for Strawberry on Ice.

They are also urging the court to prevent Davido and his collaborators from any future infringements. As it stands, Davido has not publicly addressed the lawsuit. 

Reactions trail Davido's alleged copyright infringement 

Here are some reactions below, 

@cindy_flakes wrote: “Anytime Davido is happy, una must find a way to do otherwise, una Dey forbid other been happy?”

@website_mobileapp_developer wrote: “It is well. He is still The best musician in the world.”

@fegor_thegt wrote: “Why is it when he wants to drop album.”

@ojerehighstar3 wrote: “Court no Dey fear? yanta my water m Song no still blow.”

@linqwa wrote: “If na me steal ur song sè u go carry me go court.......una too 8 that man eeen.”

@naijahookupss wrote: “This guy again,, that's what happens when Peruzzi stop giving him song, he decided to steal.”

@bash_of_redoc wrote: “Let them settle amicably instead of bringing it to court. I know Davido as a peacemaker.”

@the_sarah_officiall wrote: “Those ones wan use idolo shine too.”

@misschidel wrote: “So he's now stealing song? Nawah oo.”

@ecstasyyyyyy wrote: “You don start again.”

@classy_commy wrote: “U people should leave my Fave alone abeg!”

@wealthclouds wrote: “Ahh Wetin Baddest do!!c

@temitopeasaolu120 wrote: “Strawberry on ice wey no 30bg hear about the song?”

@imadeomoregie wrote: “Even d Davido song no even dey sweet kpa kpa.”

“Copy, Copy,” Flavour shades Kcee over copyright infringement allegations

Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that popular Nigerian singers Flavour and Kcee were at loggerheads on social media. 

Flavour seemingly threw shade at Kcee, describing him as a copycat following a new single Kcee released. 

In response, Kcee lambasted Flavour for his shade, alleging he (Kcee) copied Flavour’s song. The heated response generated reactions from netizens.