Nigerian singer Abiye Jumbo, popularly known as Mr 2Kay, has alleged that his former record label kept N8 million out of the N10 million compensation he received from Eko Hotel and Suites following an assault and robbery incident in 2017.
The singer made the disclosure during a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, explaining that the handling of the compensation money contributed to his decision to leave the record label.
According to Mr 2Kay, he received N10 million from the hotel management after armed men attacked and robbed him in his hotel room, but his record label gave him only N2 million.
“When Burna Boy sent boys to beat me up in Eko Hotel, the boys attacked me and ended up robbing me. Eko Hotel later compensated me with N10 million but my record label gave me only N2 million out of it. So, I left the record label,” he said.
Mr 2Kay also disclosed that he has ventured into music business management, describing the industry as a lucrative field.
The incident dates back to October 22, 2017, when the singer was reportedly attacked at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos after performing at the Buckwyld ’n’ Breathless concert.
Reports at the time indicated that the assailants entered his hotel room, assaulted him and robbed him at gunpoint.
The incident prompted a police investigation, leading to the arrest of four suspects, including Joel Kantiok, identified in reports as Burna Boy’s road manager.
Burna Boy was subsequently linked to the investigation and declared wanted by the police before turning himself in. In December 2017, he was arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on charges of conspiracy and being an accessory to armed robbery. He was later granted bail.
Mr 2Kay eventually withdrew the case after Burna Boy reportedly apologised to him.
The dispute attracted considerable attention within Nigeria’s music industry because of the allegations surrounding the attack and the ensuing police investigation.
In August 2021, a video circulated online showing Mr 2Kay and Burna Boy together at a nightclub in Lagos, suggesting that the two artistes had reconciled after years of tension.
Mr 2Kay’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to the financial arrangements following the 2017 incident and his decision to leave his former record label.
However, the singer did not identify the label in the remarks quoted in the report or provide details of any agreement governing the compensation. The allegation that the label retained N8 million has not been independently verified.
His disclosure also raises questions about how compensation payments are handled between artistes and their management teams, particularly where contractual arrangements determine how money received by an artiste is distributed.
