Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Dr Deji Adeleke has publicly addressed the long-standing paternity claims involving his son, Afrobeats star David Adeleke, known professionally as Davido, and a 12-year-old girl named Anuoluwapo.
Dr Adeleke dismissed the allegations as false, attributing their persistence to misinformation and social media impersonation, particularly by controversial commentator Kemi Olunloyo. He reiterated that Davido is his youngest of five children — three sons and two daughters — and said the family would embrace a grandchild if a biological link were ever confirmed.
“I am Deji Adeleke. I am the father of five children, three boys and two girls. David Adeleke, who you all know as Davido, is the baby of the family; he is the last,” he said.
Speaking to the media for the first time, Dr Adeleke explained that recurring claims about Anuoluwapo have circulated online for nearly a decade, despite his absence from social media.
“This is my first time addressing the press, and it is for one reason. Almost every year, the same story resurfaces about a little girl called Anuoluwapo in Ibadan, with allegations that David is her father. These claims have been repeatedly promoted by Kemi Olunloyo,” he added.
Dr Adeleke traced the controversy to 2014 when he received a DHL package from Ibadan containing photographs, a birth certificate listing “Adeleke David” as the father, and a letter from the child’s grandmother. According to him, the grandmother, a widow who raised two daughters alone, requested a paternity test solely to confirm responsibility, not for marriage or financial gain.
“Tracing the matter back to its origin… she wrote that she was a widow with two daughters, that she lost her husband years ago, and raised them alone. She said her eldest daughter informed her that David Adeleke was responsible for her pregnancy… She stated clearly that she was not asking David to marry her daughter, only to confirm paternity and take responsibility if confirmed,” Dr Adeleke explained.
He said he promptly contacted the family, verified their address, and arranged a DNA test at Vedic Lifecare Hospital in Lekki, Lagos, with samples analysed in South Africa. Both families were present during saliva sample collection.
“Immediately I read the letter, even before speaking to David, I called the woman… I would welcome her into my family happily,” he said.
The DNA results, Dr Adeleke confirmed, showed a 0.00% probability of paternity, proving that Davido is not the child’s father. He noted that a total of five DNA tests have been conducted over the years, all consistently ruling out paternity.
“The grandmother broke down and cried. I told her mistakes could happen and suggested we do two more DNA tests at other reputable centers. I offered to keep them in Lagos for a week at my expense so additional tests could be carried out,” he added.
Dr Adeleke declined to release the DNA reports publicly, citing privacy concerns and security risks from exposing genetic information. “It is dangerous for anyone’s DNA profile to be in the public domain,” he said, warning that such exposure could endanger both Davido and the minor.
The issue resurfaced recently after an Instagram post, allegedly from Anu, requested a DNA test to clarify identity and address emotional distress. Davido responded, stating he had never met the mother, Ayo Labinjoh, called the claims obsessive, and referenced the previous negative tests.
Ayo Labinjoh, however, disputed the Adeleke family account, claiming only one test occurred in 2014, results were allegedly discarded or fabricated, and called for an independent test potentially supervised by the U.S. Embassy due to Davido’s American citizenship.
Dr Adeleke concluded by urging the public to disregard misleading online narratives and emphasised the family’s goodwill.
