Davido Withdraws Custody Case, Says Lawyer's Comment About Late Son Was 'Lowest Blow'

Singer clarifies he sought joint custody of daughter Imade, not full custody, as he ends legal battle with Sophia Momodu

Afrobeats superstar Davido has announced he is withdrawing his custody case involving his first daughter, Imade Adeleke, explaining that a courtroom comment referencing his late son crossed an unacceptable line.

In a series of posts on his X account Friday, the singer clarified misconceptions surrounding the legal battle, emphasizing he never sought full custody of his 10-year-old daughter but rather joint custody with her mother, Sophia Momodu.

'Nobody Won, Nobody Lost'

"I never asked for full custody… I asked for joint custody," Davido wrote, pushing back against narratives that portrayed the case as a bid to remove Imade from her mother's care.

He expressed frustration at those celebrating the court proceedings, stating: "Nobody won, nobody lost but Imade… so I don't know why some people are celebrating… there's nothing to celebrate."

The Breaking Point

The Grammy-nominated artist revealed that despite confidence in his legal position, the case took a painful turn when opposing counsel invoked the memory of his late son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, who tragically died in October 2022 at age three.

"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!" he disclosed.

Davido welcomed twins with his wife, Chioma Adeleke, in October 2023, a year after Ifeanyi's passing.

Background of the Dispute

Davido and Sophia dated in 2015, and Imade was born on May 14 of that year. In 2024, the singer filed a motion at the Lagos High Court seeking "unrestricted access" to his daughter. Sophia responded by asserting she had never denied him access to Imade.

In 2023, Sophia had announced plans to change Imade's surname to hers, claiming she had been "both mother and father" to the child.

Looking Forward

"My daughter will grow up knowing I fought for her… let's move on. One love," Davido concluded, signaling his desire to put the legal battle behind him and focus on co-parenting.

The decision ends what had become a highly publicized family dispute, allowing all parties to move forward without further courtroom battles.