January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Lagos, Nigeria — Business magnate Dr. Deji Adeleke, father of internationally renowned Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has publicly addressed a long-running paternity dispute involving a 12-year-old Ibadan-based girl, Mitchelle Anuoluwapo, declaring that multiple DNA tests have conclusively ruled out any biological link between the singer and the child. The announcement came at a news conference in Lagos on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, drawing widespread attention across Nigerian media and social platforms.
The controversy resurfaced after the teenager shared a social media letter in mid-January seeking clarity on her identity and urging Davido to undergo a fresh DNA test, claiming years of psychological distress, bullying and identity uncertainty due to unresolved questions about her parentage.
At the press briefing, Dr. Adeleke recounted how the matter was first brought to his attention in 2014 when he received a package through courier containing photographs, a purported birth certificate and a letter from Anuoluwapo’s grandmother alleging that Davido was the child’s father. He said he immediately acted to clarify the claim, arranging for scientific testing with all parties present.
According to Dr. Adeleke, five separate DNA tests including three on Davido himself and two on his cousin, Adebayo David Adeleke (B-Red) were conducted at accredited facilities in an effort to eliminate any doubt, and all results consistently showed a zero percent probability of paternity.
“Adeleke stressed that science is science and that DNA will not change even if repeated multiple times,” said one report summarising the press conference. He reiterated that if scientific evidence had proven otherwise, the family would have welcomed the child without hesitation.
Acknowledging the emotional complexity of the situation, Dr. Adeleke also described how he has provided financial support for the girl’s schooling and welfare over the years, even without public knowledge or involvement from his son, underscoring a humanitarian aspect to the family’s response despite persistent rumours.
The Adeleke patriarch criticised blogger Kemi Olunloyo, alleging that she had kept the dispute alive through social media impersonations and unverified claims long after the scientific tests were completed. He displayed communication claims suggesting that online accounts linked to the matter were not managed by the child’s immediate family.
Davido himself has publicly denied the paternity claim on social media, at times using blunt language to express frustration over its recurrence, insisting that the matter had been settled through testing years ago. Reports indicate that both Davido and his father sought to be transparent and scientific in their approach to proving or disproving the claim.
Despite the Adeleke family’s insistence on DNA evidence, the child’s mother, identified as Ayo Labinjoh, has in the past contested claims about the number and nature of earlier tests, maintaining that only one test took place in 2014 and disputing its integrity. This conflicting narrative has contributed to ongoing debate on social media and in entertainment circles.
As the public conversation continues to unfold, the episode highlights broader discussions in Nigerian society about celebrity scrutiny, the role of science in settling personal disputes, and the emotional complexities of identity and family.