The father of Afrobeats superstar Davido, Adedeji Adeleke, has dismissed fresh paternity claims linking his son to 12-year-old Anuoluwapo Michelle Adeleke, describing the allegations as false and driven by a sustained campaign of impersonation and defamation. He attributed the renewed controversy to controversial journalist Kemi Olunloyo.
Adedeji Adeleke addressed the matter during a press briefing held at his Lagos residence on Wednesday, attended by PREMIUM TIMES. The briefing came after the long-running dispute resurfaced following a renewed plea by the minor on social media for a fresh DNA test.
“I Have 14 Grandchildren,” Adeleke Says
In a detailed statement, the billionaire businessman said the family had handled the matter transparently since it first emerged in 2014.
“To start with, let me put it on record that I have 14 grandchildren. And I’ll tell you the story about Anuoluwapo and what has happened since,” he said.
He disclosed that the family first learned of the allegation in 2014 when he received a letter from a lawyer in Ibadan alleging that Davido had impregnated a woman and abandoned the child. He said he immediately took action.
Allegation of Impersonation, Threat of Legal Action
At the centre of the Adeleke family’s claim is an allegation that Kemi Olunloyo impersonated the minor online to attack Davido. The 68-year-old billionaire read a message he said was sent by Anuoluwapo’s aunt, denying ownership of a social media account allegedly used to post statements attributed to the girl.
The message reportedly stated, “My mum or I do not run the account. The account is run by Kemi Olunloyo, with whom we cut ties years ago. We have reached out to her several times to stop posting anything about Anu.”
Adedeji Adeleke questioned the legality of impersonating a minor and accused Olunloyo of persistently targeting his son. He also condemned her alleged claims about his wife, describing them as false and defamatory.
“How can this Kemi say that she drove my wife to the hospital? The woman is a lunatic,” he said.
He said the family was considering legal action over what he described as sustained defamation. “We are going to consider suing her,” he added.
Five DNA Tests Confirm No Paternity
Adeleke revealed that five DNA tests have been conducted over the years, all of which showed that Davido is not the biological father of the child. He presented the most recent result at the briefing, stating it indicated a 0.00 percent paternity probability. The document was reportedly signed by both him and the child’s grandmother.
“All other DNA tests of Davido’s children read 99.9 percent,” he said, questioning why the allegations continue.
“Why will somebody be deliberately maligning a person?” he asked.
Family Support, But No Involvement From Davido
Adeleke said he personally supported Anuoluwapo’s family for several years, offering to sponsor the child’s mother, Ayotomide Labinjoh, through school. He claimed he covered the child’s school fees and regularly sent money for her upkeep.
“I volunteered to sponsor the mother to school so she could take care of the child, but she deferred in year two,” he said. He added that he covered the child’s school fees until last year and that Davido was unaware of his private support.
He argued that there was “no point” in conducting a fresh test, insisting that previous results already proved the matter conclusively.
Renewed Claims, Conflicting Narratives
The dispute re-emerged in January after Anuoluwapo publicly appealed on Instagram for a fresh DNA test, citing years of bullying and emotional distress. Davido responded on X, insisting that multiple DNA tests had already been conducted and returned negative results.
The girl’s mother disputes the Adeleke family’s account, claiming only one DNA test was carried out in 2014 and alleging irregularities. She has demanded a fresh, independently supervised test.
Public attention intensified after Kemi Olunloyo’s involvement. The journalist has rejected the Adeleke family’s version of events, publishing what she described as a 2014 DNA test result and insisting it was the only verified test conducted. She also claims to have supported the child and her mother, including facilitating the girl’s education.
Davido has dismissed arguments based on physical resemblance and reiterated that all DNA tests conducted show he is not the child’s father.