Kampala — Court has ordered the International Police to arrest Nigerian musician Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun commonly known as Wizkid to stand trial over alleged offenses of fraud.
The alleged offenses stem from his failure to appear in Kampala for a concert dubbed ‘Wizkid Live in Concert’ which was slated for December 3 this year.
Grade One Magistrate, Mr. Baligeya Moses Mufumbiro, sitting at the Law Development Center issued the arrest warrant on Friday.
“You are directed to arrest the said Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun aka Wizkid and produce him before me on or before January 2017,” the warrant reads in part.
The singer is jointly wanted with his manager, Mr. Sunday Are over allegations that they induced M/s Face TV Limited to enter a concert performance contract where the singer was slated to perform in Kampala on December 3, 2016.
The duo is facing charges of obtaining money by false pretense, cheating, and conspiracy to defraud.
Face TV Limited in the letter to the Director of Interpol and International Relations in Kampala has asked issuance of a red notice against the accused persons.
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Through its lawyers of Muwema and Company Advocates, it is alleged that between August 29, 2016, and November 2016 Face TV Limited paid Mr. Sunday Are the full performance fee of $60,000, a brokerage fee of $5,000 and $3,000 being per diem for the days they were going to stay in Uganda.
“Our client (Face TV) then incurred substantial expenses in booking and re-booking flights, hotel, venue, advertising and promotions for the concert which expenses grossed over $300,000. In the meantime, more than 25,000 Ugandans paid for tickets in advance in anticipation of the concert,” reads the letter-complaint by the lawyers.
According to court documents, Wizkid a resident of Lagos in Nigeria is currently visiting Los Angeles and Califonia in the United States of America while Mr. Sunday Are is in Lagos.
It is alleged that the misconduct by the suspects has not only damaged the name and reputation of Face TV but it has also defrauded music-loving Ugandans of entertainment value.
