Davido drops Imade custody fight after lawyer’s cruel jab at late son

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has withdrawn his legal bid for joint custody of his daughter, Imade Adeleke, following a heated courtroom exchange that referenced his late son.

The announcement came late Friday via emotional posts on social media platforms, where the singer clarified that he had never sought full custody of Imade, his first child with influencer Sophia Momodu, but rather a joint arrangement to ensure unrestricted access and involvement in her life.

Davido and Momodu welcomed Imade on May 14, 2015, during their relationship in the mid-2010s. The custody dispute escalated in 2024 when Davido filed a motion in the Lagos High Court seeking court-ordered access to his daughter, alleging restrictions imposed by Momodu.

The latest hearing, held on February 12 or 13, 2026, in Yaba, Lagos, reportedly turned contentious during cross-examination.

According to multiple reports and Davido’s own statements, Momodu’s lawyer, Ebelechukwu Egeonu Enedah, questioned Davido’s ability to ensure Imade’s safety and proper care, drawing a parallel to the tragic drowning death of his son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, in October 2022 at the family home.

Davido described the remark as a “lowest blow” and an unacceptable personal attack, claiming it crossed a line and prompted him to lose his composure in court.

In posts, he accused the lawyer of unprofessionalism, stating he had “disgraced” her during proceedings and expressing hope she never experiences similar grief.

“I’ve decided to drop the case because when I was spanking that lawyer in the courtroom…she would get so frustrated… until she brought out her last card — my deceased son. That’s a no no! Lowest blow!” Davido wrote.

He emphasized that no one truly won in the dispute: “Nobody won, nobody lost but Imade, so I don’t know why some people are celebrating. There is nothing to celebrate.”

The singer affirmed his commitment to his daughter, noting, “My daughter will grow up knowing I fought for her. Let us move on ❤️🙏 One love!”