Nigerian singer-songwriter Davido has announced that he is pursuing legal action after an April Fools’ Day article falsely claimed that he had been arrested for drug offences. The 31-year-old Afrobeats star, whose real name is David Adedeji Adeleke, expressed his dismay over the fabricated story, which alleged that he was detained after cocaine was purportedly found on his private jet.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, including Instagram where he has millions of followers, Davido condemned the dissemination of such misinformation, stressing the serious implications of false allegations, particularly on an international scale. He clarified that the reports were entirely untrue and confirmed that he has never been arrested for any crime in any country, including his home countries, Nigeria and the United States.
The prank article, initially published by Kenyan media outlet K24 TV, generated widespread attention before it was removed. Screenshots of the post showed that it garnered hundreds of thousands of views before being deleted. The Directorate of Criminal Investigations in Kenya labelled the story as “fake news” on social media.
Davido, recognised as one of the most influential Afrobeats artists alongside Burna Boy and Wizkid, had recently performed in Uganda and Kenya before returning to Nigeria. His statement outlined that he successfully completed his scheduled shows and reiterated his commitment to seeking legal recourse against the media entities responsible for spreading misinformation.
The singer’s latest album, “Timeless,” released in March 2023, has received widespread acclaim, featuring collaborations with artists such as Skepta, Asake, and Angélique Kidjo.
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