A paternity dispute involving Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has taken a new turn after a 12-year-old girl, Anuoluwapo Mitchelle, and her mother, Ayo Labinjoh, publicly accused the singer of bullying, threats and spreading false information about DNA tests.
In statements shared online, Anuoluwapo and her mother disputed Davido’s claim that multiple DNA tests had been conducted to establish paternity. They insisted that only one test was ever carried out and alleged that the process was compromised.
The teenager alleged that Davido’s response to her request to establish her identity was hostile and emotionally distressing. According to her, the controversy has taken a toll on her mental health.
“Dear Nigerians: My dad Mr David Adeleke replied me earlier this evening. I was devastated by the way he cursed me out, bullied me and threatened to lock my mother up simply because I want to establish my identity,” she wrote.
She further accused the singer of making inconsistent claims about the number of DNA tests conducted, stating that while he initially referenced two tests, he later claimed five had been done, including one on her 10th birthday.
According to Anuoluwapo, her mother maintains that only one DNA test was conducted, allegedly arranged by Davido’s uncle, Dr Deji Adeleke, and that the result was fraudulent. She said she would now seek international oversight for an independent DNA test.
Her mother, Ayo Labinjoh, also issued a strongly worded statement, denying Davido’s characterisation of her and accusing him of years of silence, intimidation and misinformation.
“I am not Davido’s baby mama or a ‘bitch’,” Labinjoh said, adding that her primary concern was her daughter’s mental health. She claimed Anuoluwapo had suffered emotional distress over the years, including fainting in school and undergoing psychotherapy.
Labinjoh further alleged that the only DNA test carried out in 2014 was not conducted in a hospital but at a laboratory, where her daughter’s blood sample was later discarded and a false result issued. She accused individuals linked to the process of misleading the public about the number of tests conducted.
She also claimed that Davido recently contacted her daughter directly, threatening to have her detained and using abusive language.
“David is a US citizen. I will request the US State Department to contact the Embassy in Lagos or Abuja to help us supervise and witness a clean independent DNA test,” she said, stressing that her daughter was not seeking conflict but clarity about her identity.
As of the time of filing this report, Davido has not publicly responded to the latest allegations. The matter continues to generate widespread reactions on social media, with many calling for an independent and transparent resolution to the dispute.