Identity, Pain and a Public Plea: 13-Year-Old Anu Adeleke Asks Davido for DNA Test as Long-Running Paternity Saga Reopens

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A deeply personal appeal by a 13-year-old girl has reignited public debate around one of Nigerian entertainment’s most controversial paternity disputes, after Anu Adeleke formally asked Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, to submit to a DNA test to establish her identity.

In an emotional Instagram post that quickly went viral on Wednesday, Anu—also known as Mitchelle Anuoluwapo Adeleke—addressed the singer directly, describing years of emotional trauma tied to unresolved questions about her paternity. The post, accompanied by a striking photograph of her wearing a sparkling gown and tiara, struck a chord with many Nigerians and sparked intense reactions online.

Anu revealed that since the age of six, she has endured persistent bullying from classmates who mocked her whenever she mentioned Davido as her father. According to her, the ridicule led to repeated emotional breakdowns and, at one point, the need for professional mental health support.

“As I grow older, I want to establish my identity,” she wrote. “Now that I’m in secondary school and still excelling academically, I no longer speak about my family history. However, as I transition into a young woman, I am respectfully asking Mr David Adeleke Singer @davido for a DNA test to establish my identity.”

She stressed that her request was not driven by publicity or pressure, describing the proposed test as a private matter between herself and Davido. “This test is between my dad and me. It is something I want. It is the right thing to do,” she added, urging the singer to consider her plea once he sees the post. Anu also expressed gratitude to Nigerians for the emotional support she said she has received over the past seven years.

The renewed attention stems from long-standing claims by Anu’s mother, Ayo Grace Labinjoh, also known as Ayo Labinjo, who has maintained for more than a decade that Davido is Anu’s biological father following a brief relationship around 2013–2014. Labinjoh has previously disputed earlier DNA results, alleging procedural irregularities and claiming that one test was compromised.

However, in 2025, Davido’s former lawyer, Prince Bobo Ajudua, stated publicly that two separate DNA tests were conducted at reputable medical facilities. One of the tests, he said, was reportedly chosen by Anu’s family at the suggestion of Davido’s father, billionaire businessman Dr. Deji Adeleke. According to Ajudua, both tests confirmed that Davido is not Anu’s biological father, describing the continued public assertions as “extremely unfair” to the Adeleke family and to Anu herself.

As of late January 15, 2026, Davido—who is a father to several publicly acknowledged children and is married to Chioma—has not issued any public response to the teenager’s appeal.

The post has divided opinion across social media. While many users expressed sympathy for Anu’s emotional journey and her desire for clarity, others questioned the public nature of the request given the history of previous DNA tests and denials. Some commenters have also pointed to perceived physical similarities between Anu and Davido’s eldest daughter, Imade, further fueling online speculation.

The latest development reopens a sensitive chapter in a decade-old controversy, highlighting the complex questions of identity, responsibility, and privacy that arise when deeply personal family matters unfold under the harsh spotlight of celebrity life.