Sophia Momodu, the mother of Davido’s child, has responded to the custody lawsuit the singer filed against her at the Lagos State High Court concerning their daughter, Imade.
Previously, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Davido, through his legal team, requested joint custody of Imade, who was born in May 2015 and is currently nine years old. His attorneys, including Olaniyi Arije and Okey Barrah, initiated the lawsuit on April 17, 2024.
In her response, conveyed by her legal representatives Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors and Bimpe Ajegbomogun & Co, Ms. Momodu, who is related to renowned journalist Dele Momodu, disputed the accusations Davido made against her.
Among the claims, Davido alleged that Ms. Momodu, 37, turned down a N200 million apartment he bought in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, which included amenities such as a swimming pool and 24-hour utilities, for Imade’s well-being.
The singer also claimed that Ms. Momodu demanded he pay an annual lump sum of $19,600 for a nanny she hired, which breaks down to $800 monthly.
Despite his efforts to provide for their daughter, Davido accused Ms. Momodu of treating him with undue hostility, causing him significant distress.
However, in her reaction, Ms. Momodu stated that her only refusal was to be intimate with Davido. She clarified this through a statement released on Saturday by her legal team and published in Pulse.
The statement read: “David Adeleke and Sophia Momodu were in a relationship from 2014-2017 and 2020-2022. During this period, David supported their daughter financially, covering expenses such as school fees, rent, and other living costs, including the vehicles mentioned in the article. Sophia ended the relationship with David in July 2022. Since then, David has repeatedly threatened to make Sophia’s life difficult if she does not engage in a sexual relationship with him.
“Sophia has never denied David access to their daughter, only to herself, which has been the source of his discontent. David is publicly known to be in another relationship, and Sophia wishes him well. She seeks to move on with her life, free from harassment and verbal abuse.”
The 37-year-old entrepreneur further alleged that Davido had neglected Imade for over two years.
Allegations
Ms. Momodu has claimed that the 31-year-old singer has chosen not to engage with their daughter or acknowledge important events.
“David has not seen our daughter since July 2022 by his own decision. Sophia has never restricted his access to their child. He has not made any effort to reach out on significant occasions like her birthday or Christmas for the past two years, causing their daughter to feel upset and wonder why he has distanced himself from her. Despite this, David shares pictures of her on social media, misleadingly presenting himself as a caring and involved father.”
Moreover, the statement mentioned that Sophia has been bearing all the financial responsibilities, including rent, living and travel expenses, healthcare, and other costs related to their daughter, for the last two years.
“Since July 2022, David has failed to meet his financial obligations for their daughter, resulting in unpaid school fees. The school has contacted him multiple times about the fees for the 2021/2022 term and January 2023, but he has not responded. In February 2023, legal action led to David’s father, Mr. Adedeji Adeleke, settling the overdue fees. Despite this financial neglect, Sophia believes that the most important support David can offer their daughter is his presence and emotional backing,” the statement concluded.