Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has issued a strong public rebuttal to the long-running paternity claims involving a young girl, Anu Adeleke, who alleges she is his first daughter.
Anu Adeleke's Public Appeal and Davido's Forceful Denial
The controversy was reignited after Anu Adeleke took to social media to make a direct appeal to the singer. The girl, who is approaching her 13th birthday, stated her desire to know her biological father. She explained that she has faced persistent bullying at school from classmates whenever she identifies Davido as her father, a situation she claims has negatively impacted her mental health and necessitated medical support.
Her mother has also maintained for years that Davido is the father, a claim the "Feel" crooner has never acknowledged. In response to being tagged online, Davido took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account on January 16, 2026, to address the matter head-on.
The Singer's Account: Five Tests and a Final Statement
In a series of posts, Davido firmly denied being Anu's father. He revealed that he had previously undergone five separate DNA tests in different hospitals concerning the paternity claim. According to him, all results conclusively came back negative.
The singer detailed that the process was transparent, with both parties agreeing on the facilities. "Yes, I chose 3 hospitals, and they chose their own two hospitals .. all came out negative," he tweeted. Expressing clear frustration, Davido stated this would be the final time he addresses the issue publicly and insisted he has never had a personal relationship with Anu outside of the DNA test appointments.
While asserting he holds no blame towards the child, Davido directed his criticism at her mother, accusing her of perpetuating the controversy despite the scientific evidence. In a now-viral post, he wrote: "After 5 DNA tests … she Dey crase .. her and her mom better leave me the fucck alone and go find her papa … Never met the bitttch … except when we went for the DNA … very stupid behaviour."
Nigerian Netizens React to the Paternity Drama
The development sparked widespread reactions online, with the topic trending across social media platforms. Many users questioned the logic of undergoing DNA tests if Davido was certain he never had a relationship with the mother.
User @JIRGLARTW asked: "Did you sleep with her or not? Why bother with DNA if you didn’t have sex?" Others, like @it_Rutie, echoed a similar sentiment: "If you’ve never slept with the mum then no need for DNA."
However, a significant portion of commentators sympathized with Davido and criticized the child's mother. User @_iammarvis_ stated: "Why is that lady using that her daughter to disturb davido since forever?? Nawaoooo,when them arrest her now,hope we won’t hear justice for this and justice for that,cos it’s way too embarrassing for him." Another, @officialdelolo, urged: "This woman should stop punishing that innocent child."
Some comments also referenced other figures, with users like @godiya_moses and @iamtimah_white calling on "Aunty Kem Kem" or "Kemi" to leave Davido alone, suggesting a third party might be involved in pushing the narrative.
The case remains a poignant example of the intense public scrutiny surrounding celebrity personal lives in Nigeria, highlighting the emotional toll such controversies can take on all involved, especially a minor caught in the crossfire.
