Davido charges Sophia Momodu to court, demands full custody of his daughter Imade

Nigerian Afrobeat Star Davido Adeleke has filed a lawsuit against his first baby mama, Sophia Momodu, demanding full custody of their nine years old daughter, Imade Aurora Adeleke.

Davido gave various justifications for his choice, according to documents submitted to the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024, by his legal team, which includes well-known attorneys Dr. Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah.

In his accusation, Davido claimed that Sophia Momodu routinely made outrageous demands and turned down his offers of reasonable accommodations, using their daughter as a means to obtain significant financial gains from him.

Among the complaints contained in the petition, Davido stated that he had faithfully performed his duties to Imade, which included covering her living expenses, educational costs, and other costs necessary for her health.

He claimed that even though they gave their daughter a safe place to live and cars for her transportation needs, Sophia Momodu insisted on receiving large amounts of money for car upkeep and rent instead.

“That 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.

“That I have also been providing money for the rent of the apartment where the respondent resides with our daughter.”

“The 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 daughter’s accommodation” 

“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.”

“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,” Davido said in the suit.

He further alleged that her demands for expenses such as nanny fees and international travel costs were excessive and not in the child’s best interest.

In his statement to the court, Davido expressed deep concern over what he described as Sophia Momodu’s unreasonable behavior, which he claimed had caused him significant emotional distress.

“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.”

“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 Sophia 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.”