Sophia Momodu, the first baby mama of Afrobeats star Davido, has released a detailed statement addressing accusations that she prevented their daughter, Imade, from celebrating with her father and the Adeleke family during recent family events.
Davido celebrated his 33rd birthday last week, with his wife Chioma hosting a surprise dinner attended by friends and family, including the singer’s second daughter, Hailey, who flew in for the occasion.
Over the weekend, Davido’s elder brother, Nicholas Adeleke, also tied the knot in Atlanta, and many of the Adeleke grandchildren were spotted at the ceremony.
But Imade was noticeably absent at both gatherings; a development that sparked heavy criticism online, with many accusing Sophia of blocking father–daughter access.
In a lengthy statement released on Tuesday, Sophia said the recent online attacks were targeted attempts to malign her daughter’s image.
She wrote:
“Social media has become an integral part of our lives, and unfortunately, it has also become a platform for spreading false narratives. On a recent Sunday morning, I woke up to numerous posts that were intentionally targeted at my lovely daughter and trying to portray a false image of her well-being.”
Calling herself a “fiercely protective mother,” Sophia said she felt compelled to address the matter publicly.
Faulting claims that she is preventing access, Sophia emphasised that she has been the one catering to Imade’s needs for most of her life.
“I have been her primary caregiver for the past five years. I have handled all of her expenses except for school fees, which her paternal grandparent has kindly covered for the past three years.”
She added that despite impressions created online:
“I have not received child support from her father, but our child knows no lack. She is growing in a healthy environment and is very happy.”
In the most revealing part of her statement, Sophia disclosed that she voluntarily removed all financial obligations placed on the singer:
“I recently waived all outstanding child support payments and relinquished future claims. This decision has left me solely responsible for our child’s financial needs, which is a welcomed development by both parties.”
In May, Davido announced that he had finally reunited with Imade after a long period of distance, sharing photos of their meeting and calling it the “best day of his life.”
In June, the estranged pair reunited at their daughter’s 10th birthday party, their first public appearance together in three years although witnesses noted that the two maintained a visible emotional distance.
Their co-parenting struggles became public last year when Davido filed a lawsuit seeking joint custody, accusing Sophia of blocking access and extortion, allegations she strongly denied. She countered by stating that the singer was unfit for joint custody, citing the trauma surrounding the death of his son.
Tension between the two reportedly escalated after Davido publicly rekindled his relationship with Chioma, which triggered a social media episode from Sophia, including her infamous “cat and dog” post and later accusations of financial abuse.
Despite the online drama, Sophia maintains that her only focus is her daughter’s peace and well-being.