Sophia Momodu, the first baby mama of award-winning singer Davido, has filed a counter affidavit opposing his bid for joint custody of their daughter, Imade.
This legal move intensifies the ongoing custody battle between the two, drawing significant public attention.
Just days before his traditional wedding, Davido reportedly filed a suit to seek joint custody of Imade.
He claimed that Sophia was denying him access to their daughter and extorting money from him.
According to Davido, although their romantic relationship ended years ago, they had agreed to co-parent Imade.
He alleged that Sophia rejected his offer of a house and demanded a N5 million monthly rent instead, among other financial demands.
In response, Sophia refuted Davido’s claims, stating they had an affair from 2020 to 2022, even while he was in a relationship with Chioma.
She denied allegations of denying Davido access to their daughter, asserting that he had made no attempts to meet with Imade and had abandoned her after she refused his sexual advances.
Per Second News obtained a countersuit with no. Ld/1587PMC filed in the High Court of Justice sitting in Lagos on June 25, 2024.
Sophia filed a comprehensive 102-paragraph affidavit through her legal team, Dr. Anthony Idigbe (SAN) of Punuka Attorneys and Dr. Bimpe Ajegbomogun, to oppose Davido’s pursuit of joint custody.
The estranged couple will have their next hearing on Friday, July 5, 2024. The case has sparked mixed reactions among the public.
Some criticized Sophia for allegedly preventing her daughter from having a relationship with her father.
Comments on social media reflected this divide, with one user, Isbliss Full Rose, suggesting that if Davido is denied custody, he should not be financially responsible for Imade.
Balekzy Pharahh, another user, echoed this sentiment and implied that Davido is receiving bank-like treatment.
Others sided with Sophia, highlighting their belief in her rights as a mother.
For instance, Richie Bahd commented, “Thank God we’re seeing who the problem is,” while I Am King Star remarked that Sophia should raise the girl alone and allow Imade to make her own decisions when she grows up.
However, user Nwachina Emelu_01 questioned Sophia’s motives, asking why she would want to deprive her daughter of a relationship with her father.
This custody battle follows a tumultuous history between Davido and Sophia.
Their relationship turned sour after Davido publicly declared his love for Chioma Rowland, now his wife.
This move left Sophia infuriated, prompting her to share a post suggesting she wouldn’t tolerate disrespect and later accusing Davido of financial abuse in a series of online rants.
The co-parenting drama reignited in December last year when Sophia shared a screenshot of an emotional conversation between Imade and her grandmother.
In the chat, Imade expressed heartbreak over her brother Ifeanyi’s death and her father’s neglect, highlighting the profound sadness she felt due to the strained family dynamics.
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