Entertainment

Davido files suit for joint custody of daughter, Imade, citing unfettered access

He recounted that although he had a relationship with Momodu that led to the birth of their child on May 14, 2015, the relationship ended years ago, “while we resolved to take care of our child as biological father and mother.”

Per Second NewsJune 20, 2024650

The custody battle between award-winning singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and the mother of his daughter, Imade, Sophia Momodu, has taken a new turn with Davido taking Momodu to court.

Davido is pleading with the Lagos State High Court for “an order granting joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke to the applicant” in an originating motion that his lawyers, Dr. Olaniyi Arije, Okey Barrah, and others filed on April 17, 2024.

In the alternative, the singer prayed for “an order granting the applicant unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade.”

The suit, marked LD/1587PMC/2024, lists Mr. David Adedeji Adeleke as the applicant and Ms. Sophia Momodu as the sole respondent.

The originating motion is supported by a 44-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Davido himself.

Davido stated: “It is on record that 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 further claimed that out of love for Imade, he purchased a N200 million worth apartment in a condominium gated community with a swimming pool and 24-hour power and water supply at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, for Momodu and their daughter.

However, this offer was turned down.

“The respondent rejected the offer to stay and live at the above-described secured Oniru apartment, which had been purchased already, but demanded that I continue to pay N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility as my own contribution towards my daughter’s accommodation,” he said.

Davido added that he also bought a Range Rover Sport Utility Vehicle for Momodu and their daughter’s use, and provided another vehicle, a Highlander SUV, along with N5.8 million for the Range Rover’s repair.

Davido emphasised his commitment to their child’s well-being by 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 these efforts, he claimed that Momodu has continued to make “outlandish and utopian demands” to frustrate him. Among these demands was that he pay the nanny she hired $800 per month, amounting to $19,600 annually.

The singer lamented that despite his contributions, Momodu has shown him “unwarranted cruelty, inflicting so much pain on me.”

The contentious relationship between Davido and Sophia has been ongoing. In 2021, Sophia expressed her distress when their daughter, Imade, took Davido’s last name instead of hers.

She revealed on her Instagram Story that she cried because Imade could not bear her last name, ‘Momodu.’

Sophia wrote: “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.

“I was even arguing and everything—that they put her father’s full name and not a single letter from mine.”

Her mother explained that Imade should bear her father’s name to benefit from his lineage and inheritance, which made Sophia relent but still left her with lingering questions.