Paternity Claim: Davido’s Father Breaks Silence On DNA Tests
For weeks, social media speculation and emotional testimonies had swirled around Nigerian music superstar Davido and a 12-year-old girl, Anuoluwapo, who claimed to be his daughter. Now, for the first time, the singer’s father, Dr Adedeji Adeleke, has offered a detailed account of how the family handled the sensitive allegation – by commissioning multiple DNA tests across different clinics.
The controversy resurfaced in mid-January after Anuoluwapo shared an Instagram post describing the bullying and ridicule she said she had endured over claims that Davido, born David Adeleke, was her biological father. She said the situation had taken a toll on her mental wellbeing and publicly called for a DNA test to establish the truth.
But according to Dr Adeleke, the family had already taken steps to resolve the issue long before it gained renewed traction online.
Why Multiple Tests Were Ordered
Speaking to journalists, Davido’s father revealed that uncertainty over the child’s paternity was complicated by claims from social media commentator Kemi Olunloyo, who suggested the girl might be related not to Davido, but to his cousin, rapper B-Red.
The confusion, he explained, stemmed from similarities in names within the family.
“Because B-Red’s name is Adebayo, and his middle name is also David Adeleke, I told the girl’s aunt that we would do this properly,” he said.
To eliminate any doubt, Dr Adeleke said he proposed a comprehensive approach: the child and Davido would undergo multiple DNA tests at different medical facilities, while B-Red would also be tested separately.
The plan, he said, involved four tests conducted on the same day across different clinics, in addition to an earlier test already carried out—bringing the total number to five.
“That is why people heard that we conducted five DNA tests,” he explained.
According to him, three tests involved Davido, while two were carried out for B-Red.
A Letter That Raised Questions
Dr Adeleke also traced the origins of the case back more than a decade. He recalled receiving a package in 2014, sent from Ibadan via courier, containing photographs of Davido with a young child, images of the child’s mother, and a copy of the girl’s birth certificate.
What immediately stood out, he said, was the information on the document.
“The birth certificate listed the father’s name as Adeleke David and the mother as Adeleke Ayoomide. I asked myself, how can the mother also be Adeleke?” he said, noting that the detail raised early concerns.
Included in the package was a handwritten letter from the child’s grandmother, who identified herself as a widow and explained that her daughter had informed her that Davido was responsible for the pregnancy after meeting him during a visit to Ibadan for a performance.
Arranging The First DNA Test
Moved by the letter, Dr Adeleke said he contacted the grandmother directly, even before discussing the matter with his son. He assured her that if the child was indeed his granddaughter, she would be embraced by the family.
He then arranged for a DNA test at a hospital in Lekki, where he personally receives medical care. On the scheduled day, the child’s mother, grandmother and the baby were brought to Lagos, where saliva samples were collected from the relevant parties.
The samples, he said, were sealed and sent to South Africa for analysis.
“When the results came back, both the grandmother and I had agreed in advance that we would open them together,” he said.
While Dr Adeleke did not disclose the outcome of the tests during the interview, his account underscores the family’s insistence on due process and multiple layers of verification in addressing a deeply personal and emotionally charged claim.
As public interest in the case continues, his remarks offer rare insight into how one of Nigeria’s most prominent families sought clarity away from the glare of social media—through documentation, medical evidence and repeated testing rather than speculation alone.
