Nigerian singer Douglas Jack Agu, popularly known as Runtown, has reacted to a recent court ruling of the Federal Capital Territory High Court that Runtown’s 2016 recording agreement with Eric Many remained valid and had not been lawfully terminated.
Eelive.ng reports that the court had also ordered the singer to fulfil his contractual obligations and pay more than N319 million in damages, recoupment and legal costs for breaches of the agreement.
Reacting to the judgment, the singer via the microblogging platform, X, accused the label’s founder, Eric Many Limited, of misleading the public with what he called “fake court orders”.
He also pushed back against the ruling and made it clear he would not grant the label access to his music catalogue.
“Back outside! So not going to let any agenda run …Mr Dilly, every year you try to deceive people with fake court orders … you think after 9 years I’ll give you passwords and access to my catalogue ?? lol nice try …. Keep trying,” he wrote.
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The dispute between Runtown, Eric Many and Umenyiora dates back to 2016 after the singer sought to exit the contract.
Eric Many had accused the artiste of accepting performance bookings, releasing music and planning international tours without the label’s approval, triggering multiple legal proceedings in Nigeria and the United States.
A court in the United States, in the same year granted a temporary restraining order sought by the label, preventing Runtown from carrying out scheduled performances in the US while the contractual dispute was being determined.
The legal battle continued over the following years, with both sides securing different court decisions.
In 2019, a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained Eric Many from interfering with Runtown’s music career and suspended an earlier order that had restricted the singer from performing. Around the same period, Runtown announced he had parted ways with the label and began operating under his own imprint, Soundgod Music Group.