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Shallipopi has announced that he is stepping back from public commentary on his ongoing dispute with former manager Damilola Akinwunmi, known as Dapper.
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The singer said his legal team and the EFCC have advised him to allow the investigation into his allegations to take its course.
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Shallipopi has maintained his allegations of signature forgery, unauthorised dealings involving his music catalogue and unpaid royalties.
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Dapper has denied the allegations and challenged the singer and other former signees to submit their contracts and financial records for an independent forensic audit.
September 01, (THEWILL) — Nigerian singer Shallipopi has announced that he is stepping back from public commentary about his ongoing dispute with his former manager and Dapper Music CEO, Damilola Akinwunmi, popularly known as Dapper.
In a statement shared with his fans on Monday, August 31, Shallipopi said his legal team and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had advised him to stop addressing the matter publicly while the allegations are being investigated.
He added, “My legal team and the EFCC have advised me that for true justice to be served, I must step back and trust the legal process.”
Shallipopi said he had realized that continuing to make public comments about the matter could affect the investigation.
He added that the claims he made against Dapper must now be properly examined and that he would no longer use his music or public platforms to address the dispute.
He said, “Every claim I have brought against my former manager, Damilola Akinwumi (Dapper Music and Entertainment Limited), must be thoroughly and officially investigated.”
Shallipopi added that he would continue to stand by his allegations but would allow the relevant authorities to determine the facts.
He added, “While I stand firmly by the truth of my claims, I now understand why it is inappropriate to make public commentaries on matters under active investigation.”
The latest statement comes weeks after Shallipopi publicly accused Dapper of forging his signature on a 10-year distribution agreement.
He alleged that he originally signed a management agreement with Dapper in 2023 but later discovered that his signature had been used on a separate distribution deal.
He also alleged that his signature was used to enter an agreement with Virgin Music Group and that money connected to his catalogue was collected without his consent.
Shallipopi further claimed that royalties from 46 songs remained unpaid.
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Shallipopi said he had taken the matter to the EFCC and submitted a statement for investigation rather than continue the dispute solely online.
Dapper has denied the allegations. In his response, Akinwunmi said the artistes had received and negotiated their contracts before signing and maintained that the company had fulfilled its obligations under their agreements.
Dapper also challenged Shallipopi and other former signees, including Seyi Vibez and T.I Blaze, to subject their contracts and financial records to an independent forensic audit.
The dispute has also involved former Dapper Music artistes Seyi Vibez and T.I Blaze, who have separately raised concerns about their contracts, royalties and dealings with the company.
For now, Shallipopi says he is stepping away from the public back-and-forth and leaving the matter to the authorities.
He ended his message by acknowledging the personal weight of the dispute while expressing hope that the process would ultimately deliver justice.
He stated, “Everything I have worked for since my teenage years is tied to this moment. Despite the challenges, I remain deeply hopeful that justice will ultimately prevail.”
Evi-Ben Ezaga is an entertainment and society writer with a passion for stories that explore culture, people, and the stories shaping society today.
