Afrobeats singer Davido is under legal fire in the U.S. after being accused of stealing a song to produce his 2024 track, Strawberry on Ice. The Manhattan District Court has given him 21 days to respond to the copyright lawsuit.

On April 4, 2025, the United States District Court in Manhattan hit Nigerian music icon David ‘Davido’ Adeleke with a 21-day deadline to respond to a copyright infringement lawsuit. The suit, filed by four Nigerian artists are Martins Chukwuka Emmanuel, Abel Great Umaru, Kelvin Ayodele Campbell, and David Ovhioghena Umaru claims Davido stole their 2022 song to create his 2024 release Strawberry on Ice.

According to court documents, the plaintiffs initially sent the track to Davido in January 2022 in hopes of securing a collaboration. However, instead of collaborating, they allege the artist handed the song over to Sierra Leonean singer Emmerson Amidu Bockarie, who sampled both vocals and instrumentals to produce Strawberry on Ice.

The plaintiffs claim that no permission was granted and no credits were given. This led to multiple attempts at a private settlement which reportedly ended with Davido agreeing to pay $45,000 and grant the group 40% of the song’s composition royalties and 20% of its recording royalties.

Despite the agreement made on March 14, 2025, the plaintiffs say Davido missed the March 24 deadline to fulfill his part of the deal. With no payment or royalty arrangements honored, the artists moved forward with a full-blown lawsuit.

They are now demanding:

• $150,000 in damages
• 40% copyright ownership of the Strawberry on Ice composition
• 20% ownership of its sound recording rights
• A court order preventing Davido and his team from using the track or infringing on any of their future works.

The lawsuit doesn’t stop at Davido. It also includes:

• Sierra Leonean artist Emmerson
• Carlos Jenkins
• Matthew Quinney
• Marques Miles II
• Wynn Records, the label behind the release of Strawberry on Ice

As of April 10, Davido has not made any public comment or legal response to the suit, leaving fans and the music industry hanging. With the clock ticking on his 21-day deadline, all eyes are now on what move the Afrobeats superstar will make next.

The lawsuit could potentially shake up the international Afrobeats scene if the court rules in favor of the plaintiffs. Until then, fans are left wondering: will Davido settle, fight, or stay silent?

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