Davido Drags Sophia Momodu To Court, Demands Custody Of Daughter Imade
International award-winning singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has dragged Sophia Momodu, the mother of his first child, Imade, to court, seeking custody of the daughter.
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 is praying the court for โan order granting joint custody of Miss Imade Adeleke to the applicant.โ
In the alternative, the singer prayed to the court for โan order granting to the applicant unfettered and unrestricted access to Miss Imade.โ
The suit, marked LD/1587PMC/2024, has as applicant Mr David Adedeji Adeleke, while Ms Sophia Momodu was listed as the sole respondent.
The originating motion was supported by a 44-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Davido himself.
He narrated that though he had a relationship with Momodu that led to the birth of their child on May 14, 2015, the relationship had ended some years ago โwhile we resolved to take care of our child as biological father and mother.โ
Davido said, โThat 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.
โThat I have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with our daughter.โ
The singer said that as a result of the love he had for Imade, he purchased and offered the mother a N200m worth apartment in a condominium gated community with a swimming pool and 24-hour power and water supply at Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos. An offer he claimed was turned down.
He said, โThe 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 daughterโs accommodation.โ
Davido said to ensure that the interest of Imade was well-catered for, โI 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.โ
He added that sometime last year,ย he received a call from her daughterโs school that Imade had been absent for two weeks, and upon his inquiry from Momodu, โShe 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.โ
He added, โThat 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.โ
According to Davido, to further ensure that the interest of their child was adequately taken care of, โI 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.โ
โThat notwithstanding my efforts in the overall interest of my daughter, the respondent has continued to make outlandish and Utopian demands to frustrate me,โ the singer added.
Listing the other demands allegedly made by Momodu, he said, โThe 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.โ
Davido claimed that despite his contribution towards ensuring a better life for their daughter, โthe respondent has continued to show me unwarranted cruelty, inflicting so much pain on me.โ
Davido and Sophia have often been at loggerheads.
In 2021, Sophia revealed that she was pained when their daughter, Imade, took Davidoโs last name and not hers.
Momodu revealed this via her Instagram Story when she reacted to a post about children bearing their mothersโ names.
According to her, she cried bitterly because her daughter could not bear her last name โMomoduโ.
She wrote, โI remember my mom and aunties laughing at me when I was crying because my daughterโs last name wasnโt going to be Momodu.
โI was genuinely distraught. I was even arguing and everything, that they put her fatherโs full name and not a single letter from mine.โ
She further revealed that her mother made her understand that Imade should bear her fatherโs name so that she could gain from her fatherโs lineage and inheritance.
She added, โIt made me shut up real quick, but I lowkey had so many questions.โ