Afrobeats star Davido has formally withdrawn his legal petition seeking custody of his daughter, Imade.

The singer clarified that his intention had been to secure joint custody with his first child’s mother, Sophia Momodu.

However, he announced that he would no longer pursue the matter, citing what he described as an ethical breach by opposing counsel.

In statements shared on his social media platforms, Davido said proceedings took a troubling turn when his late son, Ifeanyi Adeleke, was referenced during cross-examination.

He maintained that while he believed he was effectively arguing for unrestricted access to his daughter, the invocation of his deceased child crossed a line he could not accept.

The artiste, whose recent album Timeless reinforced his global standing, dismissed online reactions portraying the case’s conclusion as a victory for either side, insisting that no one wins in such deeply personal disputes played out publicly.

Despite stepping back from the legal battle, Davido expressed a sense of closure, stating that his daughter would, in time, understand that he sought to assert his right to be an active and present father in her life.

He wrote, “I never asked for full custody … I asked for joint custody. Nobody won, nobody lost but Imade … so I don’t know why some pple r celebrating.. there’s nothing to celebrate.

‘I’ve decided to drop the case because when I was spanking that lawyer in the court room all .. she would get so frustrated .. because normally I finish school .. I was finishing her .. until she brought out her last card ! My deceased son ! Thats a no no! Lowest blow! My daughter will grow up knowing I fought for her .. let’s move on. One love !” (The Guardian)

Update news