Encomium
The picture of Sophia Momodu, aka Davido’s baby mama with her baby Imade posted on the Instagram page of Bashorun Dele Momodu with these words: “All is well that ends well.” Sophia Momodu with baby, Imade Adeleke last night at grandpa, Dr. Deji Adeleke’s home on Monday, January 11, 2016, gave the impression that finally, a truce had been called between the Adelekes and the Momodus who were engaged in a week long media war over the custody of baby Imade.
ENCOMIUM Weekly presents to you the dateline of the whole drama which rocked the internet and newspapers for more than a week.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015. The Adelekes which includes the patriarch of the family, Dr. Deji Adeleke, Miss Ashley Coco Adeleke, David Adeleke aka Davido and Imade Adeleke were stopped from travelling to Dubai, United Arab Emirates by immigration officials at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, because Coco Adeleke’s passport and that of Imade were seized by the Immigration.
The internet was awash with the pictures of the Adelekes at the immigration office at the airport. There was also a video which showed Dr. Deji Adeleke and Dele Momodu in an argument on the impropriety of taking the baby to Dubai without the consent of the mother.
Sophia aka the baby mama through her lawyer, Mr. Ajayi sent a petition to National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking Persons (NAPTIP) accusing Davido and his sister of abduction and child trafficking. She claimed in her petition that her child, Imade had been taken from her by force since Saturday, July 11, 2015.
On this same Wednesday, December 30, 2015, Davido released his ‘so long a letter’ of how he met Sophia, who he claimed used her older age to manipulate him.
He also wrote how he has been giving her a monthly allowance of N300,000 and housed her in an apartment in Lekki, Lagos which he paid two years rent since Imade was born.
He took a swipe at Dele Momodu and his wife for not being around Sophia, when she gave birth to Imade and when he was taking good care of her.
He said his daughter, Imade was being taken abroad to a hospital for treatment over a breathing problem she developed from her mother’s breast which was alleged to be filled with cannabis.
Thursday, December 31, 2015. Bashorun Dele Momodu told his own side of the story. He wrote how he got to know about Sophia having a baby for Davido and Dr. Deji Adeleke, Davido’s father called sometime in September 2015, to inform him that his niece, Sophia had a baby for his son, Davido. He wrote about how the two families met to resolve certain issues concerning the health and custody of the baby.
He mentioned two people that were invited by the Adelekes. He said Davido’s father told him that cannabis was found in the blood of the baby and that both Davido and Sophia are irresponsible parents. He narrated what led to his stopping the Adelekes from taking Imade abroad without the consent of his mother.
He said he specifically came to Nigeria on Monday, December 28, 2015, to stop the Adelekes from taking Imade abroad again without the consent of the mother, Sophia.
Still on Thursday, December 31, 2015, Davido tweeted this, “I don’t deserve this shit. All I have ever done is love that baby…”
In another tweet he wrote thus, “Sad…same girl defended when I took her to my father’s party and one of his friends had slept with her ….I still had her back…”
Still on Thursday, December 31, 2015, Dele Momodu posted the WhatsApp messages between Davido and Sophia.
The WhatsApp messages read thus:
Sophia: The meeting he has every right to speak on it. No need for bickering. Talking about what you said or shouldn’t say.
Davido: F..k your uncle. He’s mad. Always talking shit that’s all he knows how to do.
Sophia: Do not insult my uncle, David.
Davido: And you can tell him I said it.
Sophia: I’m tired of you being so disrespectful to my family. I don’t do that to you.
Davido: Before I tweet him to mind his f..king business.
Sophia: Well, if you feel it’s the best. My family might not be rich as yours but we are good people and we don’t tear down to build.
And it is his business because he is my family. He represents my father.
On the same Thursday, December 31, 2015, Davido tweeted thus: “Mr. Dele Momodu, I apologize but you didn’t have to.”
In another tweet he wrote, “All these lies being put on me…no be today. I have so much to say but in respect for my daughter, I will keep quiet. I apologize.”
Again he tweeted:
“Someone that is not my wife…I bought her a business class ticket and about 10,000 pounds sterling on shopping money.”
Another tweet:
“It was all good on Christmas day…all this because of Dubai. A 4-day trip. I just gave you money to go to London two months ago.”
Yet another tweet:
“It’s crazy…whole time this girl was pregnant, you wouldn’t even pick her call. As soon as the DNA test came back, you showed in my DM so quick!”
Another tweet:
“Not myself at all right now. I’m out…I’m hurt.”
Saturday, January 2, 2016, the Momodus cried out that the Adelekes are still holding on to the baby. A member of the Momodu family who spoke to Sunday Punch on Sunday, January 3, 2016, under the condition of anonymity said the Adelekes said only the court can take the baby away from them.
Sunday, January 6, 2016. Davido posted on the internet a purported pathology report from ClinaLancet Laboratories showing that Sophia Momodu tested positive to cannabis. He also took the opportunity of publishing the alleged pathology test of Sophia to further take a swipe at her, her uncle, Dele Momodu and his wife, who he alleged did not allow his daughter, Imade to travel abroad for her life threatening ailment.
He wrote so many uncomplimentary things about Dele Momodu, his niece in the rant that accompanied the pathology report.
Monday, January 4, 2016. Dele Momodu reacted to Davido’s pathology report of Sophia Momodu. Dele Momodu claimed in his response to Davido’s pathology report said it was reckless and rascal of the Adelekes to use a fabricated pathology report to deny a mother of the custody of her baby since July 2015.
In his response, he showed a picture of Davido’s sister, Coco playing with Imade inside a swimming pool at Atlanta, The Palm Dubai, one of the most luxurious resorts in the world and yet the Adelekes claimed the baby was in serious need of medical attention.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016. Sophia Momodu, Davido’s baby mama through her lawyer, Mr. Gbolaga Ajayi wrote Clina-Lancet Laboratories to furnish them with the original copy of pathology report given to the Adelekes. The lawyers also demanded from the laboratory to furnish them with the procedure used in conducting the test.
Monday, January 11, 2016. Mr. Dele Momodu, Sophia’s uncle posted on his Instagram page the picture of Sophia with her baby, Imade with the caption, “All is well that ends well. Sophia Momodu with baby Imade Adeleke last night at grandpa, Dr. Deji Adeleke’s home.”
-TOLANI ABATTI
