Davido, a Grammy-nominated singer, has sued Sophia Momodu, the mother of his first child, Imade, for joint custody and unrestricted access to their daughter.
Mr David Adedeji Adeleke is the applicant in the suit, LD/1587PMC/2024, with Ms Sophia Momodu identified as the lone respondent.
The lawsuit, filed by his lawyers, Dr Olaniyi Arije, Okey Barrah and others, at the Lagos State High Court on April 17, 2024, highlights Davido’s commitment to his parental responsibilities, including payment of school fees and living expenses.
Davido said: “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.”
According to him, 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 but the offer was turned down.
He said: “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.”
He added sometime last year, he received a call from her daughter’s school that Imade had been absent for two weeks, and upon his inquiry from Momodu, “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.”
He said: “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.”
Davido also alleged that despite his efforts, Sophia has made excessive demands, including a request for $800 monthly for a nanny and $19,600 annually for other expenses.
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.”
He claims that Sophia has subjected him to emotional distress and has been unwilling to compromise on custody and access to Imade.
“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.