The record label emPawa Africa, founded by Nigerian artist Mr Eazi, is now under pressure to pay $465,612 in legal expenses following the dismissal of a significant copyright lawsuit against Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny.
This request was filed on March 23, shortly after a U.S. federal court dismissed the case earlier this month, doing so with prejudice, which effectively closed the case without addressing the main accusation of copyright infringement.
The lawsuit originated from claims by Nigerian producer Ezeani Chidera Godfrey, known as Dera, who asserted that Bad Bunny's song 'Enséñame a Bailar' unlawfully incorporated elements from his work, 'Empty My Pocket.'
The original production was meant for Nigerian artist Joeboy and was initially circulated in 2021. However, it later became mired in legal complications involving its distributor, Lakizo Entertainment, which ultimately led to its removal from streaming services.
Bad Bunny's track was featured on his acclaimed 2022 album 'Un Verano Sin Ti,' achieving commercial success worldwide.
Efforts to amicably resolve the dispute began in May 2022 when emPawa sought due credit and compensation from Rimas Music, Bad Bunny's label, for the alleged unauthorized use of the work.
In February 2023, Mr Eazi criticized the opposing party for appropriating the creative work of African artists without giving proper credit, after rounds of failed negotiations.
The lawsuit was filed on May 2, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, with Dera and emPawa Africa as co-plaintiffs alleging copyright infringement.
While the plaintiffs maintained that there was no proper clearance for the sampled work, the defense contended they had secured permission through Lakizo Entertainment.
Despite the case's prominence, it did not advance to a substantive ruling regarding the sampling accusations due to various procedural complications.
In January 2026, Dera's legal team withdrew from the case, citing irreconcilable differences over legal strategy. In February, emPawa was dismissed from the lawsuit after failing to meet court deadlines, with Dera missing a critical discovery hearing on February 5.
On March 6, he missed another deadline to continue the litigation, which led Judge Otis D. Wright II to dismiss the case entirely on March 9, stating that Dera had effectively abandoned his claims, and proceeding would unfairly affect the defendants as well as contradict public interest.
After the dismissal, Bad Bunny’s attorneys sought to recover $465,612 in attorney fees and costs from emPawa Africa, characterizing the lawsuit as meritless from the outset and suggested that the aim was to obtain a significant settlement.
They alleged that emPawa filed frivolous objections during the discovery process and abandoned their claims rather than substantiate them or find new legal counsel post-withdrawal of their lawyers.
The ongoing case has highlighted challenges within the global music industry regarding sample clearances and collaboration complexities, especially as they pertain to Afrobeats and Latin music, where multiple stakeholders may be involved in rights ownership.
As this report stands, the court has not yet made a determination regarding the motion for legal fees. There has been no public comment from Mr Eazi, emPawa Africa, Dera, or Joeboy regarding the ongoing developments. Although the primary copyright claim remains unresolved, the outcome regarding the legal fees could significantly impact the financial stability of the independent African label if the full amount is awarded.
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