Billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Deji Adeleke, has publicly addressed the long-running paternity controversy involving his son, Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
Speaking during a media conference, Adeleke dismissed claims that the singer fathered a child with an Ibadan-based woman, describing the allegations as false. He accused controversial social media commentator Kemi Olunloyo of impersonating the child and her mother online over the years to sustain the claims.
The controversy centres on Ayo Labinjo, who alleged that she had a sexual relationship with Davido during one of his visits to Ibadan several years ago, resulting in the birth of a baby girl, Anuoluwapo. She claimed the singer abandoned the child.
The matter resurfaced recently after an Instagram account said to belong to the child appealed to Davido to submit to another DNA test. In response, the singer stated that five DNA tests had already been conducted, all of which reportedly returned negative results.
Addressing journalists, Adeleke said he was compelled to speak publicly due to the repeated re-emergence of the issue. He described the Media conference as his first public engagement on the matter.
Adeleke disclosed that he first became aware of the allegation in 2014, when he received a package from Ibadan containing photographs of Davido and the child, a birth certificate listing “Adeleke David” as the father, and a letter from the child’s grandmother.
According to him, the grandmother, a widow, appealed for Davido to submit to a paternity test, stressing that the family was not seeking marriage or financial inducement, but confirmation of paternity and responsibility if established.
Adeleke said he contacted the family immediately after receiving the letter and assured them of his willingness to accept the child as his granddaughter if paternity was confirmed. He added that he personally arranged a DNA test at Vedic Lifecare Hospital in Lagos, with samples reportedly analysed in South Africa.
The businessman maintained that the DNA results did not establish Davido as the child’s biological father and reiterated that the recurring claims were unfounded.
By Daniel Adejo
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