Davido, one of Africa’s biggest music stars, rarely appears in headlines without a chart-topping single, an award win, or a sold-out show attached. But in January 2026, the musician found himself at the centre of a very different kind of public controversy: a paternity dispute. This saga has gripped social media, divided fans, and stirred intense online debate.
At the heart of the drama is Mitchelle Anuoluwapo Adeleke, a 12-year-old girl who has publicly appealed to Davido to take a DNA test to establish whether he is her biological father.
Who Is Anu Adeleke?
Anu Mitchelle Adeleke was born in November 2013 and has periodically drawn public attention because of the paternity claim linking her to Davido. On 15 January 2026, Anu posted an open letter on her Instagram account asking Davido respectfully for a DNA test to determine her paternity. According to her, years of ambiguity have subjected her to persistent bullying at school, where classmates mocked her claims that the Afrobeats star was her father. She explained that the teasing began as early as age six and, at times, led to emotional distress serious enough to require professional attention.
In her appeal, Anu emphasized that the request for a DNA test was not about financial gain but about establishing her identity and bringing clarity to a question that has shaped her life: “……as I transition into a young woman, I am respectfully asking Mr Davido Adeleke Singer Davido for a DNA test to establish mv identity. This test is between my dad and. It is something I want. It is something that’s the right thing to do…,” she wrote, expressing her desire for closure.
Many people sympathised with a child asking for answers. Others questioned why the matter had resurfaced again. And just like that, the story exploded.
Davido’s Reaction
Responded publicly, and emphatically, to the renewed allegations. he denied being Anu’s father and made clear that he had already undergone multiple DNA tests concerning this claim. The singer insisted that five separate DNA tests were conducted at different medical institutions, three at facilities he chose, and two at ones selected by Anu’s mother — and that all came back negative.
In one blunt post, Davido wrote:
“After 5 DNA tests … she Dey crase… her and her mom had better leave me the fk alone and go find her papa. Never met the bh… except when went for the DNA… very stpid behaviour.”
He also stated that he had “never met” Anu’s mother outside of the DNA test process and said he would not continue addressing the matter. Reports indicate he even threatened legal action against the woman and her mother if the claims continued.
Many observers focused not just on the substance of Davido’s denial, but on the tone and language he used, particularly given that the request came from a minor. Netizens argued that the bluntness with which he dismissed the claim lacked empathy and could have emotional impacts on Anu, even if he believed the allegation to be unfounded. On the other hand, some felt he had every right to defend himself.
Ayo Labinjoh’s Side of the Story
While Davido maintains that multiple DNA tests prove he is not Anu’s father, Anu’s mother, Ayo Labinjoh, disputes that account. She claims that no conclusive hospital-based DNA testing was ever properly conducted when Anu was a baby, despite earlier media reports suggesting tests were carried out years ago.
In an Instagram post shared on January 16, 2026, Labinjoh addressed the ongoing DNA controversy involving Anu Adeleke, pushing back strongly against claims that multiple DNA tests were conducted.
According to her, only one DNA test was ever done, and she insists that the process was deeply flawed.
She claims the test, which took place in September 2014, did not involve a proper DNA swab. Instead, Anu’s blood was taken, while Davido’s blood was drawn separately in a room the family was not allowed to enter. She says this lack of transparency immediately raised concerns.
Labinjoh also disputes the claim that Davido underwent five DNA tests. “There is no record of five DNA tests anywhere,” she stated. She noted that last year, the number mentioned publicly was two, and now, suddenly, it is five.
She further alleged that the hospital and laboratory used for the test were not chosen by her or her family. According to her, Dr. Adeleke selected the hospital, laboratory, and paid for the test himself, making it entirely independent of her side.
She also referenced the DNA result that has circulated online over the years, describing it as a “false negative test” that was released alongside what she implied was financial influence. She maintains that this was the only DNA test ever conducted.
In her message, Labinjoh criticised what she described as the misuse of influence to shape public opinion. “Stop using the power of influencing to brainwash Nigerians into believing lies,” she wrote, adding that money cannot buy everything.
…..Involving the United States’ Embassy
In a follow-up post, Labinjoh claimed that Davido has now blocked all communication with her family. However, she made it clear that this has not stopped their next steps.
According to her, the five DNA test results allegedly meant to be published “today” have still not appeared in any newspapers or online platforms. She questioned their existence, saying she and her family have not seen any official documentation to support the claims.
Labinjoh also revealed plans to approach the American Embassy to begin the process of registering Anu as the daughter of a U.S. citizen through the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (CRBA).
She explained that the CRBA process requires either a formal acknowledgment of paternity or a DNA test. She stressed that Anu has not been casually acknowledged as Davido’s daughter and stated clearly that she does not want such an arrangement for the child.
According to her, the family is now prepared for a second DNA test, which she says would be supervised through the embassy to ensure transparency and fairness.
She ended her statement with a firm declaration that the child will not be silenced.
“Nobody can silence Anu,” she wrote.
The way forward
This dispute is not new. Versions of the paternity claim have surfaced intermittently for more than a decade, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives over the years. What has made the latest round so visible is the emotional appeal directly from Anu, who shared her experiences of bullying and her desire for identity clarity just as she enters her teenage years.
The fog surrounding the dispute, conflicting claims about DNA tests, accusations of mishandling evidence, and open public denials by Davido, means the story remains unresolved. Currently, there is no independently verified DNA result publicly disclosed, and both sides have stuck firmly to their respective accounts.
What We Know, and What We Don’t
What we know is simple:
- Anu Adeleke is asking for a DNA test to confirm her identity.
- Davido says multiple DNA tests already proved he is not her father.
- Anu’s mother asserts that only one DNA test has been done an disputes its validity
- Both sides believe they are right.
- The public has no independently verified DNA result to look at.
What we don’t know is whether another DNA test will ever happen — and if it does, whether it will truly bring closure.
