Following the aborted show where Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid was slated to perform, organizers of the would-be Uganda’s first-of-its kind concert have convinced court to issue a warrant of arrest against the singer and his manager Sunday Are, the Investigator exclusively report.
Issued at the Buganda Road Court this afternoon and signed off by His Worship Moses Baligeya Mufumbiro, the Arrest warrant was attracted by the preferred charges of obtaining money by false pretense, cheating and, conspiracy to defraud, designed by Face TV lawyers of Muwema Co. Advocates and Solicitors.
It is lamented in the filed affidavits how Sunday Are and Wizkid induced the complainants into a concert performing contract whereby Wizkid was slated to perform at Lugogo Cricket Oval in Kampala on December 3rd 2016.
Between August 29th and November 29th 2016, Face TV paid to Sunday Are, Wizkid’s Manager a total performance fee of USD60,000, a brokerage fee of USD5,000 and USD3,000 as per diem for the days they were to spend in Uganda.
Following their confirmation, the organizers proceeded to incur substantial expenses in bookings and re-bookings of flights, hotel, venue, advertisements and promotions for the concert to the tune of over USD300, 000. In the meantime, over 25,000 people had already bought tickets in anticipation of the concert.
“To our clients’ utter shock, Wizkid and his troupe did not turn up for the concert despite assurance to the contrary and which assurances were made up to the last very minute. This misconduct by the accused forced our client to file a case against the accused persons vide case number 875 of 2016,” Muwemas’ demand for a Red Notice to the Interpol Director in Uganda stated in part.
A Nigerian artist, Wizkid was to perform in Uganda for the second time but the very first time since he became a top celebrity. His anticipated concert had attracted big sponsors like Star Times. He is currently in Los Angeles. “The purpose of this letter is to inform your esteemed office as to the above and seek the assistance of the Interpol Central Bureau in Kampala through the system of International Police,” wrote Muwema.
Resident of Lagos in Nigeria, Wizkid is currently in California, USA and Sunday is back home in Lagos. But the Magistrate has ordered police to produce the pair in the Kampala Court before or on January 16th 2017. The three counts the duo faces attracts three years each.