Breaking News: Federal High Court slams Runtown with an Interim injunction over breach of contract (Photos)
For the second time in 2-years, Eric Many, the record label that
signed Nigerian popstar, Runtown has filed an injunction at a Federal
High court against the singer for breach of contract.
The entertainment company served Runtown the court papers a few days
back with Suit No: FHC/L/CS/267/2018 with a statement that partly reads,
'
Runtown has been deliberately breaching his contract with us (Eric
Many) for a while and despite our many appeals to him he has refused to
bulge. He went for a show in Las Vegas since January 13th, 2018 and has
since decided to withdraw all obligations of his contract. He has
steadily been recording an album without the consent and approval of his
record label'.
According to the
statement of claim filed at the Federal High Court, by Eric Many,
"a
Recording Agreement was made between the Plaintiff and the Defendant
dated 22nd June 2016, the copyright and other intellectual property and
cognate rights and legal positions and protections applicable to all
works done by the Defendant during an initial period of two years
covered by the Agreement, is vested in the Plaintiff. The Plaintiff will
rely on a copy of the said Recording Agreement at trial. 7. Under the
Agreement, parties recognize and acknowledge the sum of N114,456,670.00
(One Hundred and Fourteen Million, Four Hundredand Fifty Six
Thousand,Six Hundred and Seventy Naira) as "Prior Investment",
representing the sum invested by the Plaintiff into the development of
the Defendant's musical works and records under the defunct 'Artiste
Agreement', precursor to the 'Recording Agreement".
In a press statement issued this morning, the label also states that,
"he's
recording with artists like Del B without the written approval of the
label and without an Eric Many appointee at the point of recording as
agreed in our contract. Runtown has also been appearing in venues and
collecting appearance fees without the approval of the label and also
performing in private shows without the label's consent which
contravenes clause 4.4.1 of his record deal which states that 'the
Defendant(Runtown) can only engage in recording, collaborating or
performing with other artistes for third parties or other record
companies upon proper notification in advance to the Plaintiff. Upon
this notification, the Plaintiff would then enter into an agreement with
the collaborating artiste or his record company to ensure that the
Plaintiff and the Defendant receive proper credit, legal/copyright
protection and compensation for the collaborative work".

Though Runtown's record deal with Eric Many is due to expire at some
point this year, the label says he still owes the company alot of money
including,
'Hundreds of millions in Naira from the Lamborghini
Gallardo super-fast car which he still has to pay back to the label and
and also an album that must be released through the right channels. He
has been doing numerous collaborations with several artists without
getting the written approval of the label and as a result, no royalties
have come back to the label from any of these collaborations. He has
been warned severally about this on numerous occasions but he refused to
listen, so we as the label had to go to court to stop him from these
dubious actions'.
The label also confirms sacking his current manager,
Ifeanyi Nwunne saying, '
Eric
Many has also fired Ifeanyi Nwunne as Runtown's manager. He is more of a
drug addict that smokes marijuana round the clock. A new manager will
be appointed soonest'.
Eric Many in its statement of claim is seeking the sum of
"N65
MILLION being General Damages against the Defendant (Runtown) in favour
of the Plaintiff for infringement of the Plaintiff's copyright to the
collaborative musical works "Call Me" and "Weekend" both of which
featured the Defendant as well as N5 MILLION as costs of this action".
"Eric Many has chosen to hold back on anything pertaining to
Runtown,till further investigations. This means that anyone who engages
Runtown without a written approval from Eric Many, signed by the
chairman, will be sued heavily.
This will be the second time in two years that Runtown has had to
face off with his label. In May 2016, he was sued in the Federal High
Court by Eric Many on allegations that he signs up, concludes and
attends musical shows without the knowledge of the label. Back then,
Eric Many also secured a court injunction stopping Runtown from
performing as an artiste anywhere in the world. He later went back to
the label to apologize and the case was settled out of cou
rt