Afrobeats sensation David Adeleke, widely known as Davido, has initiated legal proceedings against his first babymama, Sophia Momodu, seeking custody of their daughter, Imade Adeleke.
Filed by his legal team, including Dr. Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah, at the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024, the motion seeks joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke. Alternatively, Davido requests the court to grant him “unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade.”
The case, designated LD/1587PMC/2024, names Mr. David Adedeji Adeleke as the applicant and Ms. Sophia Momodu as the sole respondent.
Davido supported his motion with a 44-paragraph affidavit, where he detailed his past relationship with Momodu, which resulted in Imade’s birth on May 14, 2015. Despite the relationship ending, they had agreed to co-parent their daughter.
Davido stated, “I have consistently paid for all of my daughter’s school fees to ensure she receives the best education possible and have covered all her educational needs without issue.”
He further added, “I have also provided funds for the rent of the apartment where the respondent lives with our daughter.”
Out of love for Imade, Davido claimed he purchased a N200 million apartment in a gated community at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, which he offered to Momodu.
However, she rejected the offer, insisting he continue paying N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility.
To ensure Imade’s needs were met, Davido also bought a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle for their transportation needs.
When informed by Imade’s school about her two-week absence last year, Momodu blamed the SUV’s poor condition but had not informed him earlier.
Davido responded by providing another vehicle, a Highlander SUV, and an additional N5.8 million for the Range Rover’s repairs.
Davido stated, “I have made commitments to cover living expenses, nanny fees, medical and healthcare, insurance, and periodic international travel expenses.”
Despite these efforts, he claims Momodu has made “outlandish and utopian demands” to frustrate him, including demanding $800 per month for the nanny, totaling $19,600 per year, to be paid upfront.
Davido expressed that, despite his contributions to Imade’s well-being, Momodu has shown him unwarranted cruelty, causing him significant pain.
The relationship between Davido and Momodu has been tumultuous.
In 2021, Sophia expressed her distress on Instagram when their daughter Imade took Davido’s last name instead of hers, revealing that she cried bitterly over it.
