Harmattan Carnival team sends Runtown to court

RUNTOWN SLAMMED WITH LAWSUIT BY DYNAMIC MINDS LEAGUE (DML), ORGANIZERS OF THE HARMATTAN CARNIVAL OVER BREACH OF MUSICAL PERFORMANCE CONTRACT AT THE EVENT 

Dynamic Minds League (DML), organizers of the popular Harmattan Carnival that holds annually in Adazi Nnukwu, Anambra state has sued Runtown and his label boss, Okwudili Dilly Umenyiora before a Lagos State High Court over Runtown’s breach of musical performance contract at the event.
Runtown was due to headline the last edition of the annual Carnival which held on 1st January, 2015, but didn’t eventually show up to the event even after having been paid fully his appearance/performance fee.


The Harmattan Carnival which is Anambra’s oldest carnival has been held annually during the yuletide season since 1992. Past editions of the event have featured ace Nigerian musical talents like Phyno, Nigga Raw, Stormrex and a host of others.

DML, the organizers is a group comprising of young professionals and students from Anambra with a mission to promote and contribute to the development of their town and state, claims they paid Runtown his full agreed performance fee in December, 2014 and fulfilled all agreed obligations, but Runtown failed to turn up for the event. All diplomatic efforts made since then to secure a refund of his appearance fee has proven abortive. As a result the group has proceeded to filing a lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court demanding an apology from Runtown, as well as a refund of performance fees, logistics costs and a token amount for damages incurred.

The group is also engage in various other activities such as Harmattan Magazine, Harmattan Children Carnival, Harmattan Seminar etc.
In a chat with the group's president, Mr Stanley Anetoh who also signed the contract told Naija24Info that the agreement with Runtown was was for him to make special appearance at the Harmattan Carnival concert which held on 1st January 2015. He further narrated how Runtown failed to attend the photo shoot as planned and also failed to provide the team with a voice note meant to be used for the jingles...

The President also told Naija24Info that group was led to lots of loss and trust from their sponsors and supporters. He said the group produce the famous Harmattan Magazine which is worth millions of naira and usually advertise the Harmattan Carnival star artiste on the cover page of the magazine stressing that Runtown invalidated the magazine by not appearing in the carnival as contained. Further enumerating their losses, he noted the group lost some of their major sponsors who feel they were not reliable and some fans who paid for the tickets but were disappointed with Runtown's absence, he pointed out that they recorded poor ticket sells thereby indebting the group.

"we made the bargain and payment was made immediately, the issue about transportation never came up till the morning of the day for the event when Runtown called me and demanded for transportation fare"

Mr Chizuo on the issues of the law suit said Runtown has failed not just DML but several other groups who engaged him pointing out that it does not mean well for the young musician. He said the group filed the suit to recover the performance fee paid in full to the artiste as well as compensation for damages. He also narrated how Runtown demanded that the group provide him with four Mobile Police officers to guide him to the scene after they had paid for two flight tickets for him and his manager.

"Runtown's failure cost us a lot and we have to cut down on the cost of tickets in order to compensate our fans for the previous incidence. Moreover, expectations are high and we have to pay more to get a bigger artiste for the next edition to consolidate our efforts in compensating them"

Speaking with one of the major sponsors of the group and an international business guru, Mr Emeka Ezekwe confirmed the incidence but revealed he rather does not blame the team but Runtown's unworthiness. He admonished the group to put more effort in ensuring they correct every previous mistakes in order to retain their legacies which has been built over the years. He further confirmed Harmattan events as one of the most prominent events in Anambra state.