Davido Withdraws Custody Lawsuit for Daughter Imade After Courtroom Controversy
Nigerian music superstar Davido has announced his decision to drop the custody battle for his first child, daughter Imade Adeleke. This dramatic development follows a highly charged court hearing on February 13, where proceedings took an emotional and contentious turn.
Courtroom Eruption Over Reference to Late Son
The singer, whose real name is David Adeleke, and Imade's mother, Sophia Momodu, appeared in court for a hearing regarding Davido's lawsuit seeking joint custody of their daughter. Reports indicate the session was proceeding normally until Sophia Momodu's legal representative made a provocative statement.
The lawyer questioned Davido's ability to guarantee Imade's safety, citing the tragic passing of his son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, in October 2022. This reference to the singer's deceased child reportedly triggered an immediate and intense reaction from Davido, who lost his composure and confronted the lawyer directly within the courtroom.
Refusal to Apologize and Subsequent Case Withdrawal
The proceedings were temporarily halted due to the altercation. When the court reconvened, the presiding judge requested that Davido apologize both to the court and to the opposing counsel. The singer firmly refused, stating he could never apologize to a lawyer who used his late son against him in a legal argument.
Later that evening, Davido took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to address the situation publicly. In his post, he emphasized that no party emerged victorious from the legal confrontation, and the only true loser in the matter was his daughter, Imade.
He declared his intention to withdraw the custody case entirely, while affirming that Imade would grow up knowing her father fought diligently for her. The singer's statement highlighted the personal toll of the legal battle, shifting focus away from courtroom victories toward his daughter's well-being.
Broader Implications and Public Reaction
This incident underscores the intensely personal nature of high-profile custody disputes, where legal strategies can intersect painfully with family tragedies. The reference to Ifeanyi's death—a subject of immense public sympathy and private grief for Davido—introduced an element that many observers found particularly sensitive and potentially inappropriate for legal proceedings.
The singer's decision to discontinue the lawsuit, rather than continue through what he perceived as disrespectful litigation, reflects a prioritization of personal principles over legal outcomes. It also raises questions about the boundaries of legal argumentation in emotionally charged family cases.
Public reaction has been divided, with some supporting Davido's stance against what they view as an unfair low blow, while others emphasize the importance of maintaining decorum in judicial settings regardless of provocation.
The case's abrupt conclusion leaves unresolved the original custody arrangements, but Davido's public commitment suggests he will continue to seek involvement in his daughter's life outside the courtroom. The episode serves as a poignant reminder of how celebrity personal lives become entangled with legal processes, often with lasting emotional consequences for all involved.
