Singer Davido’s billionaire father, Dr Deji Adeleke, on Wednesday, broke his silence on the long-running paternity controversy involving the Afrobeats star and a young girl, Anuoluwapo, who has been repeatedly alleged to be the singer’s daughter.
Addressing journalists at a press conference, Adeleke dismissed the claim as false, alleging that controversial social media commentator, Kemi Olunloyo, had for years impersonated the child and her mother online to sustain the narrative.
The controversy centres on Ayo Labinjo, an Ibadan-based woman who claimed she had a sexual encounter with Davido during one of his visits to the city several years ago and subsequently gave birth to a baby girl, Anu, whom she alleged the singer abandoned.
The issue resurfaced recently after an Instagram account, purportedly belonging to the child, appealed to Davido to undergo another DNA test. In response, the singer stated that five DNA tests had already been conducted, all of which showed he was not the child’s father.
Explaining his decision to speak publicly for the first time on the matter, Adeleke said the recurring nature of the allegation compelled him to clarify the facts.
“I am Deji Adeleke, I’m the father of five children, three boys and two girls. David Adeleke, who you all know as Davido, is the baby of my family, he’s the last.
“I’m calling this press conference, and this is my very first time addressing the press, and for just one single reason,” he said.
He disclosed that he first became aware of the claim in 2014 after receiving a DHL package from Ibadan containing photographs, documents, and a birth certificate listing “Adeleke David” as the child’s father, alongside a letter from the child’s grandmother.
According to him, the grandmother, a widow, stated that her daughter informed her that Davido was responsible for the pregnancy after meeting him during a show in Ibadan. She appealed for a paternity test, stressing that she was not seeking marriage or financial gain but confirmation and responsibility.
Adeleke said he immediately contacted the family and assured them that he would gladly accept the child if she was proven to be his granddaughter.
“I told her I hadn’t spoken to my son yet, but if the child was truly my granddaughter, she had no problem with me. I would welcome her into my family happily,” he said.
He explained that he personally arranged a DNA test at Vedic Lifecare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos, with samples taken in Nigeria and analysed in South Africa.
According to him, the test returned a zero per cent probability of paternity.
“When the results were ready, both the grandmother and I went to collect them together. The result stated that the probability of paternity was zero per cent,” he said.
Despite the outcome, Adeleke said he suggested additional tests to eliminate any doubt, offering to bear all costs, including accommodation, while the family stayed in Lagos. He noted that multiple DNA tests were eventually conducted at different centres, all yielding the same result.
Addressing calls for the DNA reports to be made public, Adeleke declined, citing security and legal concerns.
“It is dangerous for anyone’s DNA profile to be in the public domain,” he said, warning that such exposure could pose serious risks to Davido and the minor.
Adeleke stressed that his family had no reason to deny a child, noting that he already had 14 grandchildren.
“What is one more?” he asked. “Is it that I cannot afford to take care of her? But there is science. And science is clear.”
He concluded by urging the public to ignore what he described as misleading online narratives surrounding the issue, attributing them to impersonation and misinformation.
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