Billionaire businessman Adedeji Adeleke, father of Afrobeats star Davido, has addressed the long-running paternity claim involving a 12-year-old girl, saying multiple DNA tests conducted over the years showed his son is not the child’s father.
Adeleke spoke in a video address to journalists on Wednesday, describing his decision to speak publicly as necessary amid renewed speculation and misinformation surrounding the issue. According to him, the family first became aware of the claim in 2014 after he received a package from Ibadan containing photographs of the child, images purporting to show Davido with the girl, and a birth certificate listing the father’s name as “Adeleke David.”
He said inconsistencies in the documents immediately raised questions, particularly the use of the Adeleke surname by the child’s mother. A letter allegedly written by the child’s grandmother accompanied the package, claiming Davido was responsible for the pregnancy following a meeting during one of his visits to Ibadan.
Adeleke said he contacted the family and assured them that if the child was indeed his granddaughter, she would be fully accepted and supported. He explained that even before discussing the matter with his son, he initiated a DNA testing process at a hospital in Lekki, with samples collected from Davido and the child and analysed outside the country.
The result, he said, did not establish a biological relationship. Adeleke noted that the issue resurfaced repeatedly over the years, often driven by online commentary and pressure from social media figures. He referenced Kemi Olunloyo, whom he said had persistently made claims and raised controversies involving his son and family.
He added that the latest round of speculation intensified after Olunloyo suggested that the child might belong to Davido’s cousin, B-Red, whose full name also includes “David Adeleke.” To address the renewed claims conclusively, Adeleke said the family agreed to conduct additional DNA tests involving both men.
According to him, three separate tests were carried out for Davido, while two were conducted for B-Red, using independent clinics selected by both parties. He said all five tests returned the same result, ruling out both Davido and B-Red as the child’s biological father.
Adeleke stressed that the family insisted on transparency throughout the process, allowing independent testing facilities and joint access to results. “It was not done by blood but from saliva collected and sealed, then sent to South Africa for analysis,” he said, adding that his intervention was not intended to generate publicity but to finally clarify an issue that had lingered for years.
The paternity claim has periodically resurfaced on social media, fuelling debate and speculation. Adeleke urged restraint, noting the emotional toll such controversies can take on families, particularly where minors are involved.
The paternity claim has periodically resurfaced on social media, most recently when the 12-year-old child made a post seeking to clarify her identity and urging Davido to undergo DNA testing to prove paternity. Adeleke emphasized the emotional toll such controversies can take on families, particularly minors, and urged restraint, noting that the recent tests conclusively resolved the matter.