By Zuleihat Owuiye, Nigeria

Nigerian singer Abiye Jumbo, popularly known as Mr 2Kay, has revealed that his former record label gave him only N2 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 revelation during a recent interview with Yanga FM Lagos, explaining that the way his record label handled the compensation money contributed to his decision to leave the company.

According to Mr 2Kay, he received N10 million from the hotel after armed men attacked and robbed him at the facility. However, he alleged that his record label released only N2 million to him from the amount.

He said the incident left him dissatisfied with the label’s handling of the situation and eventually prompted him to part ways with the company.

Mr 2Kay recalled that the attack occurred after an incident involving his colleague, Grammy-winning singer Damini Ogulu, popularly known as Burna Boy.

“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.

The singer also disclosed that he has since ventured into music business management as a music executive, describing the business as a lucrative one.

Details of the 2017 incident

The incident happened on October 22, 2017, after Mr 2Kay performed at the Buckwyld ‘n’ Breathless concert held at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

According to reports at the time, the singer was attacked in his hotel room by armed men who allegedly disguised themselves as room service personnel. He was reportedly beaten, tied up and robbed at gunpoint.

The incident triggered a police investigation, which led to the arrest of four suspects, including Joel Kantiok, who was identified as Burna Boy’s road manager.

During police interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to being hired and paid by Burna Boy to attack Mr 2Kay.

Following the allegations, the Lagos State Police Command declared Burna Boy wanted. The singer later turned himself in to the police and was arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in December 2017.

He faced two counts relating to conspiracy and being an accessory to armed robbery and was subsequently granted bail.

How Mr 2Kay and Burna Boy settled their differences

The dispute between the two singers later took a different turn after Burna Boy reportedly tendered an apology to Mr 2Kay.

Mr 2Kay subsequently withdrew the case from court, bringing the legal dispute to an end.

In August 2021, a video showing both singers spending time together at a Lagos nightclub went viral on social media. Their appearance together was widely viewed as a sign that they had put their longstanding differences behind them.

Years after the incident, Mr 2Kay’s latest comments have brought renewed attention to the controversy, particularly his claim that he received only a fraction of the compensation paid by Eko Hotel and Suites.

His disclosure also highlights his dissatisfaction with the way his former record label handled the money, which he says played a significant role in his decision to leave the company and pursue other opportunities in the music industry.