On Friday June 3,
2016, Lydia Obasis Hills, Esq., a first-rate New York litigator and
entertainment lawyer, secured a temporary injunction, on behalf of Eric
Many, Ltd., in the Eastern District of New York against Runtown and his
manager
, Bugu Aneto Okeke, barring all U.S. performances and appearances by the Nigerian pop star.
According to Ms. Obasi Hills, she hopes “Runtown’s injunction sends a
message to Nigerian artists that it’s important to respect the sanctity
of contracts, and to work with their labels who often invest large sums
into promoting their careers.” Runtown sought to breach his contract
with EricMany, Ltd., to which he was the sole artist on the label.
Ms. Obasi Hills argued before United States District Judge Kiyo A.
Matsumoto, who found that “Nigerian music is on the verge of crossing
over into North American popular music as demonstrated by Nigerian
musical artist Wizkid’s performance on the number one single ‘One Dance’
by Drake,” and that the “totality of potential losses that EricMany
will likely face from Runtown’s actions are incalculable.” Judge
Matsumoto found that a “Nigerian court issued an interim injunction
dated May 20, 2016, that enjoins Runtown” and that it “will be virtually
impossible to quantify the losses that EricMany will suffer if it is
not affiliated with Runtown during this critical time for Nigerian
music.”
See 19 Pages Document Below!
Ms. Obasi Hills presented
evidence to the Court that Runtown was not only in breach of his record
contract, but was also planning a U.S. tour, titled “Ghetto University
USA Tour,” without the consent of his label, which would have been in
violation of the May 20, 2016 Lagos Federal High Court injunction. Ms.
Obasi Hills also presented evidence that Runtown was making false and
malicious defamatory statements against EricMany and its CEO, Prince
Okwudili Umenyiora. Judge Matsumoto ultimately entered an Order
restraining and enjoining Douglas Jack Agu (“Runtown”), Bugu Aneto
Okeke, Bug Media Limited, and Bug Entertainment and Media Limited, from
“singing, appearing, hosting, performing, promoting, arranging,
facilitating, scheduling, advertising or permitting the performance of
Douglas Jack Agu “Runtown” at any venue on or after June 3, 2016.“
According to Ms. Obasi Hills, “EricMany’s
victory is a victory for all Nigerian record labels, which sends a
clear message to all artists that a record deal is a binding agreement.
It’s wrong for an artist to reap the benefits that signing to a label
provides, only to leave thereafter to the detriment of the label, and
after the artist has achieved fame and success in large part due to the
label’s investments in the artist’s career. EricMany has invested over
$600,000.00 USD into Runtown’s career and has yet to re-coup the
totality of its investment. While the media has been aflame with rumors
that Runtown has left EricMany, the hope is that Runtown and EricMany
will be able to settle their differences and enter into a new record
contract, leaving the past in the past. EricMany undoubtedly wants
Runtown to excel, shine and break barriers in the Nigerian and American
music industry. However, things have to be done the right way – with
professionalism and mutual respect.”
Ms. Obasi Hills,
EricMany’s U.S. counsel, is also the founder of the Nigerian American
Entertainment Alliance and currently serves as Vice President of the
Nigerian Lawyers Association – the National Voice of the Nigerian U.S.
Legal Community.
See 19 Pages Document Below!
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