In the ongoing custody battle between Nigerian music star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, and his ex-partner Sophia Momodu, the High Court of Lagos has dismissed Adeleke’s application for custody of their daughter, Imade Adeleke.
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The court’s decision comes after Momodu filed a comprehensive counter-affidavit, detailing allegations of neglect, emotional blackmail, and a pattern of irresponsible behavior by Adeleke.
According to the court documents, Momodu, who has been Imade’s primary caregiver since birth, accused Adeleke of using the withdrawal of his fatherly duties and financial support as a means to manipulate her into resuming a sexual relationship with him. She alleged that Adeleke would often refuse to visit or communicate with their daughter whenever Momodu declined his sexual advances.
Momodu further claimed that Adeleke’s involvement in Imade’s life was primarily limited to instances where he could use their daughter for media stunts and promotions to boost his public image. She described incidents where Adeleke would kick her and Imade out of his house during a vacation, leaving them with nowhere to go, and then cease all communication with his daughter for extended periods.
The counter-affidavit also highlighted Adeleke’s alleged failure to consistently pay Imade’s school fees, leading to embarrassing situations where the child was excluded from school activities. Momodu claimed that she had to rely on Adeleke’s father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, to intervene and settle outstanding fees to ensure Imade’s continued education.
Counter-Affidavit-David-Adeleke-v-Sophia-Momodu-scan_2024062807461199-1Momodu’s legal team argued that Adeleke’s lifestyle, which includes controversial media attention, wild parties with unsavory characters, and frequent international travel, renders him unfit to be granted custody of Imade. They pointed to the tragic death of Adeleke’s son, Ifeanyi, under questionable circumstances in his home, as evidence of an unsafe environment for a young girl.
Furthermore, Momodu accused Adeleke and his family members of attempting to kidnap Imade and take her out of the country without her consent on multiple occasions. She recounted an incident where Adeleke’s sister falsely represented herself as Imade’s mother at the airport, only to be intercepted by Nigerian Immigration Services.
In light of these allegations, Momodu’s legal team asserted that granting Adeleke custody would be detrimental to Imade’s well-being. They emphasized the need for a formal structure and arrangement for Imade’s maintenance, proposing a detailed plan that includes provisions for education, healthcare, accommodation, and therapy to help the child cope with the absence of a consistent father figure.
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