Multiple award-winning musician, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has sued the mother of his first child, Sophia Momodu, seeking custody of the child, Imade.
In an originating motion filed by his lawyers, Dr Olaniyi Arije, Okey Barrah and others, at the Lagos State High Court, dated April 17, 2024, Davido wants the court to make “an order granting joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke to the applicant.”
The singer prayed to the court for “an order granting to the applicant unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade,” in the alternative.
The suit, marked LD/1587PMC/2024, has Ms Sophia Momodu as the sole respondent, with the he originating motion supported by a 44-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Davido himself.
According to the music artiste, the relationship with Momodu ended some years ago, but after the birth of their daughter, Imade, on May 14, 2015, and that they both had to take care of the child as biological father and mother.
He pointed out that he had Davido said, been responsible for the payment of all the school fees of his daughter to provide her with the best education possible and to meet all her educational needs without a hitch, and have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with the daughter.
Davido further stated that as a result of the love he has for Imade, he purchased and offered the mother 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 but she allegedly turned down the offer and rather demanded that he continues to pay N5,000,000 annually for a rented facility as his own contribution towards the daughter’s accommodation.
Davido said to ensure that the interest of Imade was well-catered for, “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, etc.”
He added that sometime last year, he received a call from her daughter’s school that Imade had been absent for two weeks, and upon his inquiry from Momodu, “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.”
He added, “That sequel to the information about the said condition of the vehicle, I provided another vehicle, Highlander SUV, and in addition, the sum of N5.8m as requested by her for the repair of the Range Rover SUV, making it two vehicles in the custody and use of the respondent and our daughter.”
According to Davido, to further ensure that the interest of their child was adequately taken care of, “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.”
“That notwithstanding my efforts in the overall interest of my daughter, the respondent has continued to make outlandish and Utopian demands to frustrate me,” the singer added.
Listing the other demands allegedly made by Momodu, he said, “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 claimed that despite his contribution towards ensuring a better life for their daughter, “the respondent has continued to show me unwarranted cruelty, inflicting so much pain on me.”
Davido and Sophia have often been at loggerheads since their separation.
