Nigerian music star, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke, appears to have given up on the custody battle for his daughter, Imade Aurora Adeleke, after his estranged lover, Sophia Momodu, referenced the death of his son, Ifeanyi, in her counter affidavit to his suit
Momodu, in the affidavit, stated that the singer cannot adequately care for their daughter.
Davido had filed the suit at the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024, seeking unfettered access to Imade.
But Momodu on Friday told a Lagos State High Court sitting in Sabo, Yaba, not to grant the child’s custody to the musician.
In the counter affidavit marked LD/1587PMC/2024, Momodu said Davido’s lifestyle and frequent travels would be detrimental to Imade’s well-being.
She stated that their daughter “is a minor (9 years old) and as her mother, she has stayed with me all her life and I have been responsible for her welfare, upkeep, and well-being.”
She added that, “the Applicant (Davido) in his role as an artiste always travels and allows many unsavoury male adults around him and his house, who will not be a good influence on an impressionable young female child, like our daughter.
“The Applicant disagreed with child therapy as the Applicant has been estranged from our daughter for a while and safely and sustainably establishing a meaningful presence in our daughter’s life is paramount.
“The Applicant is an artist who always travels around the world as mandated by his career and cannot possibly be with our daughter at crucial times.
“The Applicant is married to another woman, and they live together. The proper upbringing of our daughter by another cannot be guaranteed.
“The fact that the Applicant lost his son in his house in rather unfortunate and questionable circumstances shows that our daughter cannot be placed in the custody of the Applicant.”
Reacting via his Instagram page, Davido wrote, “You’re constantly bringing up the death of my child at any point you can to just remind us of this tragedy that haunts us every day of our lives. Imade will grow up to see I fought for her… as for now you can have her…
“P.S: she won’t be a child forever… enjoy Imade Aurora Adeleke! Your father loves you!”
He continued, “All I ask for is JOINT CUSTODY!! And nothing else! But because it’s ‘Davido’ y’all wanna act like y’all can’t read. Smh…I’m off this! Y’all be blessed and I pray this never happens to you.”
“Joint custody—both parents will have access to the child. Sole custody. Only a single parent will have access to the child.”
Davido To Momodu: ‘You Always Bring Up My Son’s Death To Hurt Me’ is first published on The Whistler Newspaper