Veteran journalist and publisher Dele Momodu has shared his perspective on the ongoing custody battle between his niece Sophia Momodu and Afrobeat superstar Davido over their daughter.
In a series of posts on his verified social media handle, Momodu expressed surprise that Davido had filed an affidavit seeking joint custody of their child. He said his previous conversations with Davido had focused on the singer’s upcoming wedding and his reconnection with their daughter, with no mention of any custody issues.
Momodu revealed that Davido and his family have always had access to the child, and when Davido stopped paying her school fees, he brought it to the attention of Davido’s father, Deji Adeleke, who then cleared all the fees and even gifted the child a car.
The Peoples Democratic Party chieftain disclosed that the main problems between Sophia and Davido were primarily about financial support, including school fees, accommodation, and a nanny’s salary. He noted that the real issue was the payment of accommodation, where Sophia suggested that Davido should pay half while she also paid half of the rent, but the singer rejected the offer and said he would only be paying N5 million per annum.
Momodu asserted that Sophia allowed Davido access to their daughter, provided she had her nanny around, and that the 9-year-old herself made this request. He said Sophia did not institute the custody battle, and the lack of communication and friendship between Davido and Sophia has led to the present situation.
The veteran journalist urged both parties to prioritize their daughter’s well-being and compromise on custody and financial responsibilities, while avoiding harmful rhetoric in the media. He also advised them to engage in the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process referred by the court during Settlement Week.
