Billionaire businessman and philanthropist, Dr Deji Adeleke, has publicly addressed for the first time the long-standing paternity controversy involving his son, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido.
Speaking on Wednesday, Dr Adeleke dismissed claims that Davido is the biological father of a 12-year-old Ibadan-based girl, Anuoluwapo, describing the allegations as false and repeatedly recycled on social media.
He attributed the persistence of the claims partly to misinformation and alleged impersonation by controversial online commentator Kemi Olunloyo.
Dr Adeleke said he is the father of five children, three sons and two daughters, with Davido being the youngest. He added that the Adeleke family currently has 14 grandchildren and would not reject another if a biological connection were proven.
“I am Deji Adeleke. I have five children, three boys and two girls. David, known to you all as Davido, is the last born,” he said.
Explaining why he chose to speak out now, the businessman noted that the claims have resurfaced almost yearly since 2014, despite his personal absence from social media platforms.
“This is my first time addressing the press, and it is because this same story keeps coming back every year, that David has a child in Ibadan called Anuoluwapo,” he said.
According to Dr Adeleke, the issue first came to his attention in 2014 when he received a DHL package from Ibadan containing photographs of Davido and the child, a birth certificate listing “Adeleke David” as the father, and a letter allegedly written by the child’s grandmother.
He said the grandmother, a widow, claimed her daughter met Davido when he performed in Ibadan and later became pregnant. The letter requested a paternity test but did not demand marriage or financial inducement.
Dr Adeleke stated that he immediately contacted the family, verified their address, and assured them that the child would be accepted if paternity was established. He then arranged a DNA test at Vedic Lifecare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos, with samples analysed in South Africa.
Saliva samples were taken from Davido and the child in the presence of both families, sealed, and jointly received by Dr Adeleke and the grandmother when the results were ready.
“The result showed a zero percent probability of paternity. The laboratory made it clear that David was not the father,” he said.
He added that a total of five DNA tests have been conducted over the years at different times, all with the same outcome.
Following the initial result, Dr Adeleke said the grandmother became emotional, prompting him to suggest additional tests at other reputable centres, with all expenses covered by him.
He declined to release the DNA reports publicly, citing privacy concerns, security risks, and the potential danger of placing genetic data in the public domain, particularly involving a minor.
“It is dangerous for anyone’s DNA profile to be made public,” he said.
The controversy resurfaced recently after an Instagram post, allegedly made on behalf of Anuoluwapo, called for a DNA test to resolve identity concerns and claims of bullying.
In response, Davido reiterated that he had never met the child’s mother, Ayo Labinjoh, described the situation as obsessive, and referenced the negative DNA results.
However, Labinjoh has disputed the account, alleging that only one test was conducted in 2014 at a laboratory rather than a hospital. She also claimed the process was flawed and has called for an independent DNA test, possibly supervised by the United States Embassy, citing Davido’s U.S. citizenship.
Dr Adeleke urged the public to disregard what he described as misleading narratives online, reaffirming that his family remains open to truth but would not engage with false claims.
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