Nigerian reggae-dancehall singer and songwriter Burna boy has been slammed with an injunction by a supreme federal court in New York, USA. The injunction bans him from performing at any event venue or any form of recording anywhere in USA & Canada for the time being.
He was sued in the Federal Court by a New York based promotion company, Vibesland Entertainment, LLC founded by Promoter/Producer Niyi Fatogun on allegations that he signed a contract for a 2016 United States and Canada tour and postponed the tour, failed to turn up which put the promoter in serious debt
Although Burna Boy an independent artist signed under the Burna Boy Ltd, released his OAS LP under Spaceship Entertainment label that presently holds the copyright to all his music,Vibesland Entertainment, LLC was said to have invested up to $25,000 US Dollars in preparation and facilitation of Burna boy’s trip but trouble started after the promoter obtained a US Work Permit approval visa for Burna Boy but the singer failed to honor the contractual agreement.
Burna boy's management invited the promoter to London from New York in order to try to facilitate the tour and discuss in person, the promoter traveled to London at their expense to meet up with his management all to no avail.
Despite all the efforts made by the promoter, Burna's management still postponed the tour bringing the promoter's reputation to disrepute to the extent of being publicly embarrassed/humiliated on social media by other fellow promoters. The promoter had tried all efforts to communicate via email, text, and phone calls Burna Boy's Management for 5 months consecutively, but had been deliberately ignored by refusing to answer or return his calls and emails. All efforts in trying to get this issue resolved amicably was to no avail.
Burna Boy's management claims the Promoter didn't pay the deposit as stated in the contract between VIBESLAND ENTERTAINMENT, LLC & BURNA BOY LTD but the promoter who's the official tour agent for the 2016 Burna Boy USA & CANADA Tour travelled to London, England with a cheque of $75,000.00 to meet Burna Boy's Managment for deposit of 10 cities.
The promoter said when he got to London, United Kingdom, the singer's management brought up discussion of a third party company (AEG) which wasn't part of the initial contract signed on June 29th, 2016. They believed it was very risky to pay $75,000 dollars deposit to the singer’s management that's already declared they signed a contract with a third party for the same USA tour. At that point the promoter refused to release the payment (cheque) until everything is straightforward to avoid losing $75,000.
Promoter Niyi Fatogun hired an entertainment lawyer Takena Barango to represent his company on Wednesday MAY 17th, 2017 at the Supreme Court in New York where the Judge ordered a court Injunction on Burna boy outside US tour until he settled the promoter for the financial loss suffered due to breach of contract.
Witnesses said that Burna boy's management failed to properly handle this matter, they disregarded the contractual agreement with the promoter and showed no respect in responding to all his requests. This is America where entertainment law is very effective, a contract is a biding agreement, you can't sign a contract and deliberately breach the contract. That sort of anomalies occurs frequently in Africa but not over here in United States....another witness explained.
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