By Ayomide Otitoju
Adedeji Adeleke, father of afrobeats star Davido, has dismissed recent paternity claims involving his son as unnecessary, saying DNA test results confirm that 12-year-old Anuoluwapo is not the singer’s child.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr. Adeleke emphasized that while his son cannot take responsibility for a child that is not biologically his, Anu deserves to know her father.
According to Adeleke, five separate DNA tests were conducted to verify the paternity claim, all of which returned negative results. He stressed that Davido has never denied fathering a child, but the tests indicate otherwise.
Despite the results, Adeleke said he has supported Anu, regularly sending money for her school fees and upkeep. He explained that Anu’s aunt provides receipts and evidence of purchases made for the girl. Until last year, he personally handled the school fees and maintained contact with Anu’s aunt, without Davido’s knowledge.
The long-running paternity dispute resurfaced in mid-January after Anuoluwapo appealed on Instagram for a fresh DNA test, citing years of bullying and mental distress from classmates over claims that Davido is her father.
Davido has denied the claims, reiterating that five DNA tests conducted at different hospitals were negative. A leaked chat allegedly showed the singer threatening legal action against Anu’s mother if the matter continued, with Davido stating that his father had insisted on the tests for transparency.
However, Anu’s mother, Ayotomide Labinjoh, disputed the singer’s claims, alleging that only one DNA test was conducted in 2014, which she said was compromised. She has called for a fresh, independent DNA test, suggesting supervision by the U.S. Embassy or State Department to ensure transparency due to Davido’s U.S. citizenship.
