Jan Malan Sues Arise Magazine & Nduka Obaigbena for $300,000 Unpaid Fees

Jan Malan, a South African, is one of the premiere fashion producers in Africa. Nduka Obaigbena is owner of ThisDay Newspapers and Arise Magazine, which fall under the parent company, Leaders and Company Limited

Jan Malan is suing Nduka Obaigbena/Arise Magazine for breach of contract. The fashion producer claims he is owed $300,000 in unpaid fees. A  press statement his company released on September 8 when you continue...


To Whom It May Concern
8 September 2011
Statement by Jan Malan of Umzingeli Productions

Nduka Obaigbena - ultimate owner of Arise Magazine keeps himself afloat in the international fashion world by abusing small players through broken promises and dishonored financial commitments.

On 13 February 2010, Jan Malan of Umzingeli Productions successfully staged the Arise Magazine African Fashion Collective Part III show in New York.

New York Fashion Week’s Daily Front Row Magazine reported on Monday 15 February 2010:
“It was a rousing fashion moment at style mag Arise’s show, where Black Coffee, Loin Cloth & Ashes, and Deola Sagoe presented powerful Africa-themed collections. Each designer’s riveting, vivid talent shone through in Jan Malan’s flawless production.”

Nduka Obaigbena was praised in the New York Times for repairing the image of Nigeria and Africa.
Thereafter on 5 March, 2010, Jan Malan organized a press presentation, Arise Magazine L’Afrique-ă-porter where several African designers were introduced to the media listed with the The French Fashion Federation, all organized by Jan Malan for Arise Magazine.

After a string of broken promises of payment as well as some false proof of payments, Umzingeli Productions is still out of pocket to the tune of over US$ 300 000 for services rendered and cost incurred in paying for crew salaries, printing of invitations, programs, deposits for accommodation, flights, wardrobe and audio-visual.

The failure to effect payment has significantly affected Umzingeli Productions and Jan Malan personally who have had to fund a variety of costs which were incurred following a contractual commitment by Nduka Obaigbena’s company Leaders and Company Limited and various personal assurances by Mr Obaigbena that payment would be made.

Leaders and Company recently elected to pay some of Umzingeli Productions’s sub-contractors, such as Model Agencies in New York, directly, as to continue doing business in New York.

Arise Magazine is scheduled to stage another show at New York Fashion Week on 15 September 2011.
Umzingeli Productions has issued summons against Leaders and Company Limited.
ENDS

Read more about it here

You can also read Mr Obaigbena's response here