Davido and Sophie Momodu
The drama between pop sensation, Davido,
and the estranged mother of his daughter, Sophia Momodu, took a new
dimension earlier in the week when the latter wrote a letter of petition
against the musician through her lawyer, Mr. Gbolaga Ajayi.
and the estranged mother of his daughter, Sophia Momodu, took a new
dimension earlier in the week when the latter wrote a letter of petition
against the musician through her lawyer, Mr. Gbolaga Ajayi.
Ajayi had while seeking protection for
the rights of his client, petitioned the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons because the case borders on child
abduction and trafficking.
the rights of his client, petitioned the National Agency for the
Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons because the case borders on child
abduction and trafficking.
When Saturday Beats contacted the Lagos
State Zonal Commander of the agency, Mr. Joseph Famakin, he said that
NAPTIP would be impartial as it proceeds with investigation into the
matter.
State Zonal Commander of the agency, Mr. Joseph Famakin, he said that
NAPTIP would be impartial as it proceeds with investigation into the
matter.
“The case was reported to us on
Wednesday and we have already commenced investigations. That is the only
thing I can say for now. We are known for doing a diligent job
irrespective of who is involved.
Wednesday and we have already commenced investigations. That is the only
thing I can say for now. We are known for doing a diligent job
irrespective of who is involved.
“For now, I cannot say anything about
the case because we have just sent out invitations to the parties
involved. I have neither seen nor interviewed any of them so for now I
cannot really say much. All I can say is that we have commenced a full
scale investigation into the matter after we received the petition on
Wednesday evening.
the case because we have just sent out invitations to the parties
involved. I have neither seen nor interviewed any of them so for now I
cannot really say much. All I can say is that we have commenced a full
scale investigation into the matter after we received the petition on
Wednesday evening.
“It is when we listen to all parties
involved that we would establish if there was a case of human
trafficking or not. There have been no facts presented to me other than
the petition I received. The people who presented the petition would
make a statement, likewise the other party involved then we would be
able to come to an objective conclusion. We cannot presuppose.
involved that we would establish if there was a case of human
trafficking or not. There have been no facts presented to me other than
the petition I received. The people who presented the petition would
make a statement, likewise the other party involved then we would be
able to come to an objective conclusion. We cannot presuppose.
“I cannot assume what would happen if
they refuse to honour our invitation but when we get to the bridge, we
would cross it. When we start the investigation, you would be informed
but at this stage, we have just received the petition and we just
commenced,” he said.
they refuse to honour our invitation but when we get to the bridge, we
would cross it. When we start the investigation, you would be informed
but at this stage, we have just received the petition and we just
commenced,” he said.
However, when Mr. Ajayi, Sophia’s
lawyer, was contacted by Saturday Beats, he corroborated Famakin’s
position before giving an insight into the matter.
lawyer, was contacted by Saturday Beats, he corroborated Famakin’s
position before giving an insight into the matter.
“This case is a novel one that is open
to different dimensions in my understanding. There was abduction from
the story that I was told. The lady was tricked to go to a house
supposedly for custodian purpose but when she got there, the baby was
taken from her and she was thrown out by Davido’s sister. That looks
like a case of abduction because the young woman forcefully took a baby
that wasn’t hers.
to different dimensions in my understanding. There was abduction from
the story that I was told. The lady was tricked to go to a house
supposedly for custodian purpose but when she got there, the baby was
taken from her and she was thrown out by Davido’s sister. That looks
like a case of abduction because the young woman forcefully took a baby
that wasn’t hers.
“The second part is the attempt to take
the baby out of the country. As soon as the immigration officers at the
airport asked who the mother of the baby was, Miss Ashley Adeleke,
raised her hand up that she was the mother. Immediately, her passports
were taken from her and she was asked some questions but because of the
crowded nature of our airport, she was able to abscond from the place
with the baby. As it is now, the baby is still in her custody. The lady
tried taking the child out of the country without the knowledge and
consent of the mother. That wasn’t the first time such would be
happening. That, in my understanding, is trafficking,” the lawyer said.
the baby out of the country. As soon as the immigration officers at the
airport asked who the mother of the baby was, Miss Ashley Adeleke,
raised her hand up that she was the mother. Immediately, her passports
were taken from her and she was asked some questions but because of the
crowded nature of our airport, she was able to abscond from the place
with the baby. As it is now, the baby is still in her custody. The lady
tried taking the child out of the country without the knowledge and
consent of the mother. That wasn’t the first time such would be
happening. That, in my understanding, is trafficking,” the lawyer said.
Speaking further, Ajayi disclosed that
his clients were not interested in making a case but want peace for
Sophia and her daughter, Imade. According to him, the whole saga had
thrown the young lady in a psychological mess.
his clients were not interested in making a case but want peace for
Sophia and her daughter, Imade. According to him, the whole saga had
thrown the young lady in a psychological mess.
“Our primary concern is that the baby be
returned to the mother but if the agency is able to establish that
Davido abducted the child, then it could either lead to a custodian
sentence. The fact before the court would determine what sentence he
gets. But there would be conviction before there can be a sentence. I
cannot say what the sentence would be,” he said.
returned to the mother but if the agency is able to establish that
Davido abducted the child, then it could either lead to a custodian
sentence. The fact before the court would determine what sentence he
gets. But there would be conviction before there can be a sentence. I
cannot say what the sentence would be,” he said.