A paternity dispute involving Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has sparked widespread reactions after a teenage girl publicly asked him to undergo a DNA test to confirm whether he is her biological father.
The girl, Mitchelle Anuoluwapo Adeleke, known as Anu, made the request in an Instagram post shared on Thursday, saying she wanted to establish her identity as she enters her teenage years.
In the post, Anu described years of bullying and emotional distress linked to the unresolved claim.
“I was bullied in school since I was six years old and cried home daily. Other students laughed at me when I told them my father was Mr David Adeleke,” she wrote.
“As I transition into a young woman, I am respectfully asking Mr David Adeleke… for a DNA test to establish my identity.”
She said the message was written by her without pressure from her family and noted that she had received medical support in the past to protect her mental health.
Davido responded shortly after, denying the claim and insisting the matter had already been resolved through medical testing.
“I’ve taken five DNA tests, all negative. I am not your father,” he wrote in comments and posts on X (formerly Twitter).
The singer said the tests were conducted at five medical facilities, three selected by him and two by Anu’s side, all of which reportedly showed he is not the father.
“Never met your mom except when we went for the DNA. She’s an obsessed fan lying to you. This needs to stop,” he added.
Davido also threatened legal action against Anu’s mother, stating that she should be held accountable for what he described as repeated false allegations.
“This is the last time I’m speaking on this nonsense,” he wrote.
She denied claims that she was seeking money or attention, saying her focus was her daughter’s wellbeing after years of bullying.
Labinjo alleged that a DNA process carried out in 2014 was compromised, claiming that blood samples were discarded and that a false result was later produced without her consent.
“My daughter is not fighting for money. She is fighting for her identity,” she wrote.
She also alleged that Davido recently contacted Anu directly with threatening and abusive language, a claim the singer has not publicly addressed.
Labinjo said she intends to request the involvement of the United States State Department and the U.S. Embassy in Lagos or Abuja to supervise what she described as an independent and transparent DNA test.
“Bullying my daughter is wrong,” she said.
The dispute has triggered intense reactions on X, with users sharply divided.
Some commenters backed Davido and criticised Anu’s mother. One user, @toxy4luv, wrote:
“Only God knows how many people madam waitress slept with at her work place. Why do people take stupid decisions like this? Now see what an innocent child is going through.”
Another user, @TheAhithophel, commented:
“If Davido was broke; would she have bothered about him a bit?”
Others questioned the reliability of the reported DNA tests. @TerryWest05 wrote:
“If na USA dem for don conduct better DNA test. Make them do clean DNA or the girl should get a lawyer in USA.”
Some users called for neutrality and fairness. @ne_dumije said:
“Nigerians always side with who’s popular. How about calling for a fair DNA test instead?”
A smaller number expressed support for the mother’s position. @Spicytosine wrote:
“Women know the true father of their kids. I support her with my full chest.”
The paternity claim has circulated intermittently for several years but resurfaced following Anu’s latest appeal. Davido, who has publicly acknowledged other children, maintains that Anu is not his daughter and that medical evidence supports his position.
As of the time of this report, no court action or embassy-supervised DNA test has been formally announced by either party.
