Court Orders Runtown to Pay ₦319 Million, Declares Eric Many Contract Still Valid as Singer Responds
Nigerian Afrobeats star Douglas Jack Agu, popularly known as Runtown, has suffered a major setback in his long-running legal dispute with former record label Eric Many Limited after a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court ruled that his recording contract with the label remains legally binding.
The judgment, delivered on July 16, 2026, by Justice O. A. Musa, held that the agreement signed between Runtown and Eric Many in June 2016 had not been lawfully terminated and therefore remains in force.
According to the court, the singer must continue to comply with every obligation contained in the contract until the legal dispute is finally determined. The ruling also restrains him from carrying out any activities that could amount to a breach of the agreement.
Court Awards Eric Many ₦319 Million
As part of the judgment, the court ordered Runtown to pay a total of ₦319 million to Eric Many Limited.
The amount includes:
| Payment | Amount |
|---|---|
| Costs and damages | ₦53 million |
| Outstanding investment and unrecovered expenses | ₦266 million |
| Total | ₦319 million |
The court ruled that the outstanding ₦266 million represents the label’s investment and business expenses that had not been recovered under the recording agreement.
Court Declares Ownership of the “Runtown” Trademark
In another significant aspect of the ruling, the court held that the “RUNTOWN” trademark belongs to Eric Many Records under the existing agreement.
This means that any commercial activities linked to the stage name—including music releases, performances, endorsement deals, tours, and other business engagements covered by the contract—must comply with the terms of the agreement and receive the label’s approval while the case remains before the court.
A Legal Dispute That Has Lasted Nearly a Decade
The dispute between Runtown and billionaire businessman Prince Okwudili “Dilly” Umenyiora, Chairman of Eric Many Entertainment, dates back to 2016.
Following the rapid success of his music career, Runtown attempted to exit the label, leading Eric Many to accuse him of breaching the terms of his recording agreement.
The company alleged that the singer accepted performance bookings, recorded new music, and arranged international tours without obtaining the label’s approval.
The disagreement quickly became one of the Nigerian entertainment industry’s most closely watched legal battles.
Over the years, both parties have repeatedly returned to court, with each side claiming victory at different stages of the case.
In 2016, courts in both Nigeria and the United States issued interim orders affecting some of Runtown’s performances while the contract dispute remained unresolved.
Two years later, Eric Many again accused the singer of violating existing court orders by continuing to perform and release new music despite insisting that he was still under an exclusive recording contract.
Runtown Built His Own Label During the Court Battle
Despite the lengthy legal battle, Runtown established his independent imprint, Soundgod Music Group, and continued releasing successful projects.
Some of his notable releases during that period include:
- Energy
- For Life
- International Badman Killa
- Unleash
- Emotions
- Kini Issue
Although the singer remained commercially successful, fans also noticed periods where he became less active, taking extended breaks from music releases and public appearances before gradually returning with new projects.
Runtown Appears to Reject Court Ruling
Shortly after reports of the latest judgment surfaced online, Runtown appeared to dismiss the ruling in a strongly worded post shared on X.
He wrote:
“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!”
Although the singer did not directly reference the July 16 judgment, many fans interpreted the statement as his response to the latest court decision and the renewed claims made by his former record label.
Legal Battle Shows No Signs of Ending
With the High Court reaffirming the validity of the recording agreement and ordering Runtown to pay ₦319 million, the legal dispute between the Afrobeats star and Eric Many has entered another significant chapter.
However, Runtown’s public reaction suggests the disagreement is far from over, raising expectations that the case could continue through further legal proceedings as both sides maintain their opposing positions.
