Award-winning singer Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, has taken legal action against Sophia Momodu, the mother of his first child, Imade.
Davido is seeking custody of their daughter through a motion filed by his lawyers at the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024.
Davido’s legal team, including Dr. Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah, filed the suit marked LD/1587PMC/2024. The singer is requesting “an order granting joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke to the applicant.” Alternatively, Davido is asking for “an order granting the applicant unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade.”
In a 44-paragraph affidavit, Davido detailed his commitment to his daughter’s well-being. He stated, “I have been responsible for the payment of all the school fees of my daughter to provide her with the best education possible and to meet all her educational needs without a hitch. I have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with our daughter.”
Davido also mentioned his efforts to secure better living conditions for Imade and her mother. He explained, “I purchased and offered the mother a N200m worth apartment in a condominium gated community with a swimming pool and 24-hour power and water supply at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. The respondent rejected the offer but demanded that I continue to pay N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility.”
To ensure Imade’s transportation needs were met, Davido said, “I bought a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle for the use of the child and the respondent to meet the transport needs, including transportation of the child to and from school.”
Davido recounted an incident where he received a call from Imade’s school about her absence. He said, “She began to make excuses and complained that the Range Rover SUV was not in a good condition, however, she refused to inform me about that.” To resolve this, he provided another vehicle and additional funds for repairs.
The singer also highlighted his financial support, stating, “I also made commitments to pay for living expenses, the fees of the nanny to our child, provide medical and health care, insurance, periodic international travel expenses and tickets.”
Despite his efforts, Davido claimed that Sophia Momodu has continued to make “outlandish and Utopian demands to frustrate me.” He added, “The respondent, among others, is demanding that I should pay the nanny she hired the sum of $800 per month, and that the total sum of $19,600 per annum be paid as a lump sum.”
Davido expressed his frustration over the situation, saying, “The respondent has continued to show me unwarranted cruelty, inflicting so much pain on me.”
Sophia Momodu and Davido have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. In 2021, Sophia revealed her distress over their daughter taking Davido’s last name instead of hers. She shared on Instagram, “I remember my mom and aunties laughing at me when I was crying because my daughter’s last name wasn’t going to be Momodu. I was genuinely distraught.”
Sophia explained that her mother convinced her that Imade should bear her father’s name to benefit from his lineage and inheritance. “It made me shut up real quick, but I lowkey had so many questions,” she added.
