Adedeji Adeleke, father of Afrobeats star Davido, has addressed ongoing paternity claims involving his son, saying DNA tests confirm that 12-year-old Anuoluwapo is not the singer’s child. Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Mr Adeleke described the claims as “unnecessary” and said while his son cannot be responsible for a child who is not biologically his, “Anu deserves to know her father.” According to him, “five DNA tests have been done to verify the paternity claim, but all of them have proved otherwise.” Despite this, he said the family has provided support for Anu over the years. “I often send money for Anu’s school fees and her upkeep,” he said, adding that her aunt always sends receipts and evidence of purchases made for the 12-year-old. “Up until last year, I sorted out the school fees while I stayed in touch with Anu’s aunt. This, Davido did not know about. I did not discuss it with David or anybody.” The paternity dispute resurfaced in mid-January after Anu allegedly appealed on Instagram for a fresh DNA test, claiming she faced years of bullying and emotional distress because of the paternity rumors. Davido has denied being the father, stating that multiple DNA tests at different hospitals have returned negative results. A leaked chat purportedly showed him warning the child’s mother that he would take legal action if the issue continued. Anu’s mother, Ayotomide Labinjoh, disputed Davido’s claims about multiple tests. She said, “only one DNA test was conducted,” and alleged that the 2014 test “was compromised at a clinic.” She requested a new, independent test supervised by the U.S. Embassy or State Department to ensure transparency, citing Davido’s U.S. citizenship. Dr Adeleke provided further context, explaining that he first learned of the claim in 2014 after receiving a DHL 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. He said the grandmother sought only confirmation of paternity and responsibility. “She said her eldest daughter informed her that David Adeleke was responsible for her pregnancy after meeting him when he came to Ibadan for a show. She said her daughter gave birth to a baby girl and asked that David step up for a paternity test. She stated clearly that she was not asking David to marry her daughter, only to confirm paternity and take responsibility if confirmed.” Adeleke said he personally arranged a DNA test at Vedic Lifecare Hospital in Lagos, with samples analyzed in South Africa. “Immediately I read the letter, even before speaking to David, I called the woman. I told her I hadn’t spoken to my son yet, but if the child was truly my granddaughter, she had no problem with me. I would welcome her into my family happily,” he said. He described how the test was conducted: “Only David, myself, the grandmother, the mother, and the child were allowed into the room. Samples were taken using saliva, not blood, and sealed for analysis.” The results showed a 0.00 percent match, conclusively excluding Davido as the father. “The DNA profile is clear. DNA will not change even if it is done ten times,” he said. To remove any doubt, Adeleke offered to conduct two additional tests at other reputable centers, covering accommodation and logistics for the family. “The grandmother broke down and cried. I told her mistakes could happen and suggested we do two more DNA tests at other reputable centres. I offered to keep them in Lagos for a week at my expense so additional tests could be carried out.” All tests returned the same conclusion. Addressing calls to make the DNA results public, Adeleke said, “It is dangerous for anyone’s DNA profile to be in the public domain,” adding, “What is one more? Is it that I cannot afford to take care of her? But there is science. And science is clear.” He also criticized social media personality Kemi Olunloyo, accusing her of impersonating the girl online and spreading false claims about his family. “She says she was my wife’s best friend. How can that be? I never met her,” he said. Concluding the briefing, Adeleke urged the public to disregard online narratives about the case, calling them “misleading and driven by impersonation and misinformation.” "I have 14 grandchildren…" Davido's father, Deji Adeleke addresses the press regarding the controversies surrounding the paternity of Anu. pic.twitter.com/lsJnuePiIE — @𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗷𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗯𝗼𝘆 (@OneJoblessBoy) January 21, 2026
