Mr Eazi’s emPawa Hit with $465,612 Legal Fees After Bad Bunny Case Is Dismissed
Nigerian music executive Mr Eazi’s record label, emPawa Africa, is facing a legal bill of $465,612 following the dismissal of a copyright infringement case involving Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny.
The demand comes after a United States federal court dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice earlier in March 2026, effectively bringing the case to an end without ruling on the central copyright claims.
The dispute originated from allegations by Nigerian producer Ezeani Chidera Godfrey, popularly known as Dera, who claimed that Bad Bunny’s 2022 hit track “Enséñame a Bailar,” from the album Un Verano Sin Ti, used an unauthorised sample of his production “Empty My Pocket.” The track was originally created for Nigerian singer Joeboy and later became involved in separate distribution disputes.
Efforts to resolve the matter amicably reportedly began as early as May 2022, with emPawa Africa reaching out to Bad Bunny’s label, Rimas Music, seeking credit and compensation. However, negotiations failed, leading to the filing of a lawsuit in May 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
The case listed Dera and emPawa Africa as co-plaintiffs, accusing Bad Bunny and his team of copyright infringement through alleged unauthorised sampling. While the plaintiffs argued that no proper clearance was obtained, the defence maintained that permission had been secured through Lakizo Entertainment.
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the case never progressed to a final judgment on the merits. Instead, it fell apart due to procedural issues. Dera’s legal team withdrew in January 2026 over internal disagreements, while emPawa Africa was later dismissed for missing court deadlines. Additional missed hearings and filings ultimately led the presiding judge to rule that the case had been abandoned.
Following the dismissal, Bad Bunny’s legal team filed a motion seeking reimbursement of legal expenses, arguing that the lawsuit was frivolous and lacked merit from the outset. They further alleged that emPawa Africa pursued the case aggressively in hopes of securing a settlement and failed to properly substantiate its claims.
The motion also claims that Dera was not the primary driver or financier of the litigation and criticises the plaintiffs for failing to maintain legal representation or comply with court procedures after their lawyers withdrew.
The copyright dispute has drawn attention across the global music industry, particularly in discussions around sample clearance, intellectual property rights, and the complexities of cross-border collaborations between Afrobeats and Latin music markets.
As of now, the court has not ruled on the request for legal fees. No official response has been issued by Mr Eazi, emPawa Africa, Dera, or Joeboy regarding the development.
If granted, the $465,612 legal fee could represent a significant financial burden for the independent label, even as the original copyright claims remain unresolved.
