YABATECH Innovation Manufacturing Clean Cooking Gas From Plastic Wastes

Yaba College of Technology has unveiled its Plastogas Hub, a plastic-to-gas and upcycling facility designed to reduce plastic waste, promote environmental sustainability and create jobs within the institution and neighbouring communities.

Administrators launched the YABATECH Plastogas Hub at the college in Lagos on Wednesday, with stakeholders describing it as a model for community-driven waste management, clean energy production and skills development.

Team Lead of the hub, Dr Lauretta Ofodile, said the initiative was born out of a shared vision to address plastic pollution sustainably within YABATECH and its environs.

She said, “This project is called the Yaba Tech Plastic Waste Hub. It is an initiative that has come out of a shared dream for the sustainable management of plastic in Yaba College of Technology and its entire environment.”

Ofodile added that the initiative was targeted at reducing plastic waste, educating the community and achieving “complete environmental sustainability.”

“Sustainable waste management and energy solutions cannot thrive in isolation. They require shared responsibility, shared expertise and shared vision,” she said, revealing that the communities of Yaba, Bariga and Somolu were key partners in the project.

She said the hub would promote responsible plastic waste collection, convert plastic waste into usable energy, serve as a training and research centre and act as a scalable model for sustainability initiatives across Nigeria.

Ofodile disclosed that the project emerged after her team secured a grant from the French Embassy in Nigeria in 2024, stating, “The opportunity to compete for a grant came about when the French Embassy announced its fifth grant in 2024, and my team was privileged to be one of the five laureates that won the grant of about N100m, which is about $50,000.

“We started this project, which is all about the sustainable collection of plastic through smart collection, shredding, breaking it down and then using it for gas production.”

She explained that the hub already produces cooking gas from plastic waste, while the residue from the process is upcycled into other products.

“Plastogas has been seen today. We’ve been producing gas for a while. The upcycling aspect is for the production of paving stones, plates, cups and briquettes that come out from batches after the production of gas,” Ofodile said.

The team lead added that the hub serves as a learning and training centre open to students, artisans and members of the public. “We have a learning platform where anybody, young, old, environmental enthusiast, student, non-student or artisan, can be trained on how to produce upcycled plastics and also produce gas,” she remarked.

Representing the French Embassy, the Project Coordinator of the French Embassy Fund, Eno-Obong Sampson, described the launch as a major milestone in the fight against plastic pollution.

“Today’s event marks a significant milestone as the Plastogas Hub stands not only as a functional recycling plant transforming plastic to gas, but also as a centre for learning, innovation and knowledge transfer,” she said.

Sampson said the hub went beyond technology, noting that it offered “a practical response to plastic pollution” through capacity development, research and awareness on proper waste management.

She commended Ofodile and her team for their resilience and commitment, saying, “What began as a shared vision and a promising idea has, through collaboration, hard work and perseverance, been transformed into a tangible facility with the potential to make an impact.”

She added that the French Embassy remained committed to supporting initiatives that promote sustainable development, innovation and institutional collaboration.

Also speaking, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, who was represented by the Deputy Rector, Lawal Adefemi, said the project aligned with the institution’s vision of turning “waste to wealth”.

Adefemi said, “This was conceived about a year ago. As of today, this is the launching aspect of it. It means we have sustainably ensured that the timeline and the vision from the point of the researchers up to the point of reality have been achieved.”

He said the college already had policies targeting waste disposal and designated areas for sorted waste. He noted that the Plastogas Hub would further enlighten and empower both the campus and the surrounding communities.

“We are using this project to enlighten and empower the YABATECH community and the immediate community around us. Those who bring their plastic waste here are rewarded monetarily in terms of the volume and quantity of waste brought in,” he said.

Adefemi added that the collected plastic waste would be processed into cooking gas and other products such as furniture, paving stones, plates and utensils.

He described the hub as “a landmark and a progress for sustainability and humanity”, noting that it would also contribute to job creation, skills acquisition and improved public health.

 

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Keystone Bank Relocates Its Awolowo Road Branch In Ikoyi

Keystone Bank Limited has relocated its Awolowo Road, Ikoyi branch to a newly developed facility at 1 Keffi/Manuwa Street, Ikoyi, Lagos.

In a statement, the bank management said the move was part of efforts to enhance customer experience and strengthen its presence in the Ikoyi business district.

It said the relocation from its former address at 36 Awolowo Road reinforces its commitment to operational efficiency, improved service delivery, and deeper engagement with customers and stakeholders within the area.

According to the lender, the newly relocated branch was “strategically designed to provide a modern, convenient, and customer-centric banking environment, equipped to meet the evolving needs of individuals and businesses in Ikoyi”.

The opening ceremony of the branch was attended by members of the bank’s executive management, staff, customers, and key stakeholders from the Ikoyi community.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank, Mr Hassan Imam, said the relocation aligned with the bank’s broader strategy to strengthen its footprint in key commercial hubs while delivering innovative and responsive banking solutions.

Imam noted that the move also supports the bank’s strategic expansion and digital transformation agenda, aimed at deploying channels that enhance customer experience across all touchpoints.

“As a bank, we will continue to raise the bar in creating best-in-class service environments for our customers in line with our core values of professionalism and customer focus,” he said.

Also speaking, the Executive Director, South and Corporate Bank, Keystone Bank, Mrs Nnenna Anyim-Okoro, described the branch relocation as a reflection of the bank’s customer-first philosophy, innovation drive, and commitment to sustainable growth.

She said the new branch is envisioned as a hub for community interaction, business support, and seamless banking solutions, adding that the bank remains committed to investing in people, technology, and processes that enhance customer experience and build long-term trust.

Customers within the Ikoyi axis commended Keystone Bank for what they described as progressive and customer-focused leadership, noting that the bank has positioned itself as more than a financial institution but a trusted partner.

They also praised the choice of the new location as strategic, describing it as well-considered and suitable for serving the Ikoyi community efficiently.

Some customers further expressed appreciation for the bank’s support of local businesses, particularly during challenging periods, and encouraged individuals and businesses yet to bank with Keystone Bank to consider the institution.

 

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Goods Worth Millions Of Naira Destroyed As Fire Guts Shopping Complex In Ajegunle

Goods worth millions of naira were destroyed as a fire outbreak gutted a shopping complex and surrounding shops along Amore Street, Ajegunle, Boundary area.

According to a preliminary report signed by Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the fire was reported via LASEMA’s 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency Lines, prompting activation of the state’s emergency response plans from its Cappa Base in Oshodi.

On arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team observed active flames consuming the one-storey complex, which housed several clothing dealers.

“Following distress alerts received on it’s 767/112 Toll-Free Emergency Lines at 0240hours, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, activated the State’s Emergency Response Plans from it’s Cappa Base, Cappa-Oshodi, Lagos.

“Upon arrival of LRT at the incident scene by 0322hours, it was observed that an outbreak of fire occurred in a shopping complex that accommodates clothes dealers was gutted by fire. Responders further observed active flames from the fire, indicating intense combustion within the complex and surrounding shops used for the storage and sales clothes. The high volume of combustible materials contributed to the rapid spread of the intense fire,” the statement read.

Preliminary investigations suggest that a power surge following the restoration of electricity ignited the blaze.

“Preliminary investigations conducted by the LASEMA Response Team revealed that the fire ignited as a result of power surge when public power supply of electricity was restored. Fortunately there was no loss of lives, nor casualties involved as a result of the incident.”

LASEMA said it immediately conducted a risk assessment, cordoned off the area, and implemented safety measures to prevent the fire from spreading to neighbouring structures.

It said, “Upon arrival, LASEMA Response Team conducted Risk Assessment of the incident scene and cordoned off the activity area. Agency’s Response Team activated Safety and Precautionary Measures to forestall damages to adjoining buildings and immediate environs of the incident scene.

“Prompt interventions were implemented by LRT in collaboration with other responders to forestall escalation of fire to adjoining buildings and eventually extinguish it. LRT co-ordinated the multi-agency response to ensure a quick and safe operation.”

The incident resulted in the complete destruction of the shopping complex and adjacent shops, along with all goods stored inside.

“The entire one-storey shopping complex and surrounding shops were completely razed by the fire. All goods and properties worth millions of naira stored therein were totally destroyed by the fire. Physical examination of the one-storey shopping complex reveals partial compromise, thereby requiring immediate structural assessment.”

LASEMA urged commercial property owners in the area to review fire safety measures and storage protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Responders at the scene, according to LASEMA included the LASEMA Response Team from Cappa Base, the LASEMA Fire Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Nigeria Police Force.

The agency said the rescue and recovery operation has been concluded, but monitoring of the site will continue to prevent a re-ignition of the fire.

 

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Why We Demolished Makoko Waterfront And Others - Lagos Gov

The Lagos State Government has defended its demolition of structures in Makoko and other waterfront communities, stating that the exercise is aimed at protecting lives, property, and public safety.

Government officials made this known on Saturday during Ask Lagos, a weekly X-space discussion designed to foster engagement between the state government and residents.

The session featured the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on e-GIS and Urban Development, Mr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde.

Addressing concerns over the demolitions, Omotoso said the actions were driven by safety, environmental, and security considerations, particularly the risks posed by illegal structures built beneath high-tension power lines and along waterways.

“No responsible government can allow people to live directly under high-tension cables or obstruct vital waterways,” Omotoso said, adding that the measures were preventive rather than punitive.

He also countered claims that affected residents were not notified, stating that the government had engaged the communities for more than five years.

According to him, existing regulations require buildings to be at least 250 metres away from power lines, but many structures were constructed within restricted zones.

“The danger is enormous. If a power line falls into the lagoon, the disaster could be unimaginable,” he warned.

Mr. Babatunde described the demolitions as part of a broader urban regeneration strategy aimed at making Lagos a safer and more sustainable megacity.

He cited the relocation of residents from Oko Baba to newly developed housing estates as an example of government intervention, noting that hundreds of housing units had been provided for displaced persons.

He encouraged residents and developers to comply with planning regulations, emphasising the importance of sustainable urban development.

During the discussion, some participants raised concerns about alleged casualties, excessive enforcement, inadequate compensation, and unclear relocation plans.

Others highlighted the emotional impact on affected residents.

Responding, Omotoso urged the public to avoid speculation and focus on verified information. At the same time, Babatunde noted that the government’s e-GIS platforms enable residents to verify zoning and setback requirements in advance.

Despite criticism from some residents and civil society groups who describe the demolitions as discriminatory or anti-poor, government officials maintain that the measures are necessary to prevent larger safety and environmental disasters.

 

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Lagos Based Company Convicted For Stealing Over N30.6 Million Belonging To Chevron Staff

A Lagos Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted a company, AAC Consulting Limited, for stealing over ₦30.6 million belonging to contract staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited, ordering the firm to pay a ₦5 million fine or face winding up.

Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the judgment yesterday after finding the company guilty of dishonestly converting the sum of ₦30,564,635.81 entrusted to it for the benefit of the affected workers.

AAC Consulting Limited was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 12 January 2026 on an amended one-count charge of stealing, contrary to Section 285(1) of the Criminal Code, Cap 34, Vol. 44, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

The case dated back to 5 June 2023, when the company and its Managing Director, Anthony Adeoye, were first arraigned on a 50-count charge of stealing and issuing dud cheques. Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty, leading to a full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by I. O. Daramola, called two witnesses and tendered several documentary exhibits, all of which were admitted by the court.

However, following the repayment of the disputed sum to the petitioner in December 2023, the defendants opted to change their plea. The EFCC subsequently amended the charge, and the company pleaded guilty to the lone count of stealing.

The charge stated that AAC Consulting Limited, on or about 27 April 2013, within the Ikeja Judicial Division of Lagos State, dishonestly converted to its own use the aggregate sum of ₦30,564,635.81, being funds belonging to contract staff of Chevron Nigeria Limited.

In his judgment, Justice Oshodi held that the company’s decade-long delay in refunding the money underscored the criminality of the act, notwithstanding the eventual repayment. He consequently convicted AAC Consulting Limited and imposed a ₦5 million fine, to be paid within 14 days.

The judge warned that failure to comply with the order would result in the winding up of the company, stressing the need for corporate accountability and deterrence in financial crimes.

 

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How Two Heavy Duty Trucks Contesting For The Road, Collided At Otedola Bridge, Killing One And Causing Massive Traffic

A Trailer driver lost his life on Friday following a multi-vehicle crash involving articulated trucks at Otedola Bridge inward Secretariat along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) spokesperson, Mr. Adebayo Taofiq, said the principal incident involved a violent collision between two heavy-duty trailers, one laden with sand and the other conveying granite, reportedly occasioned by a reckless contest for right of way.

According to him, the impact of the collision trapped the driver of the sand-laden trailer, who sustained fatal injuries and was later confirmed dead.

Taofiq explained that operatives of LASTMA, who were on routine surveillance, promptly responded to the incident and successfully extricated the trapped victim.

“He was immediately handed over to officials of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and rushed to the General Hospital, Ikeja, where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the second trailer was rescued alive and reportedly sustained no injuries,” he said.

In a related incident, another trailer loaded with flour overturned about 50 metres from the primary crash site, further compounding traffic congestion along the busy corridor.

Security operatives from the Alausa Police Division were deployed to the scene to maintain order, manage crowd control, and support rescue and recovery operations. The combined incidents reportedly blocked nearly 80 per cent of the carriageway, necessitating extensive traffic diversion.

Motorists travelling inward Lagos from the Mowe, Kara Bridge and Redemption Camp axis were redirected through the Ojodu–Olole route, linking Agidingbi, Coca-Cola, Secretariat and 7-Up areas, to access Gbagada or Ojota.

Reacting to the incident, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, described the crashes as regrettable and avoidable, attributing them to impatience, indiscipline and the failure of some drivers to yield.

He urged motorists, particularly operators of heavy-duty vehicles, to strictly adhere to traffic regulations and exercise courtesy on the roads to prevent further loss of life.

Giwa also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and commended the swift and coordinated response of LASTMA, LASAMBUS and security agencies in managing the emergency.

 

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Six Injured, One Dies As Truck Rams Into Vehicles Along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

An auto crash involving a Dangote truck and other vehicles along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has claimed the life of one persons, leaving six others seriously injured.

Vehicles involved in the crash are: Toyota Sienna – Registration Number KWL 889 XC; J4 Vehicle – Registration Number KTU 130 TL; J4 Vehicle – Registration Number AKD 428 YH, and a Sino Truck (Dangote Group Truck) – Truck Number OBJ-CNG14C-030.

Spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta on Thursday.

Akinbiyi said that seven persons(all males) were involved in the accident that resulted in the death of one person trapped in the wreckage and six injured persons.

He said that the cause of the crash was due to wrong overtaking on the part of the truck driver, who rammed into other vehicles on the road

The TRACE PRO said that operatives of his agency, the Police, and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) were on the ground for a rescue mission.

He said that the body of the dead person trapped in the wreckage was successfully removed and taken to Idera hospital private morgue.

Akinbiyi added that the injured victims were rescued and taken to Famobis Hospital by FRSC and OGSAES.

He said that all the accident vehicles had been towed by Mowe MTD Police for further investigation.

The TRACE Image Maker said that the traffic initially affected has since returned to normal.

In other news, two persons sustained injuries in a truck-truck collision that occurred along the same Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The vehicles involved in the crash are: a White DAF truck with registration number T-13351LA and another White DAF truck with no registration number.

Spokesperson of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, confirmed this to newsmen in a statement in Abeokuta on Wednesday.

Akinbiyi said that two persons(adult males) sustained varying degrees of injuries from the accident.

He said that four people were occupants of the two white DAF truck with one loaded with diesel and the other loaded with bottled water.

The TRACE Public Relations Officer said the cause of the crash was speeding by the driver of the truck loaded with diesel, who hit the truck loaded with bottled water from the rear.

He said that operatives of TRACE, Police and Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) were on the ground for a rescue mission.

Akinbiyi said the injured victims had been taken to Live Well Hospital in Sagamu, while the accident vehicles had been towed by Redeem POLICE MTD for further investigation

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Supreme Court Dismisses Al-Mustapha’s Trial For Kudirat Abiola’s Murder After Lagos Abandoned Case

The Supreme Court has dismissed the trial of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha (rtd), the former Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the late Military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, in the murder of the late politician, Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

Kudirat Abiola was the wife of the late businessman and politician, Chief MKO Abiola, the presumed winner of the June 12, 1993, presidential election that was annulled by former President Ibrahim Babangida.

She was murdered in Lagos during the nationwide crisis that followed the annulment and in the course of her persistent struggle to have the annulment reversed by the military.

The trial of Al-Mustapha in the murder charge brought against him by the Lagos State government was put to rest on Thursday by a five-member panel of Justices of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Uwani Aba-Aji.

At the proceedings, where Lagos State was slated to re-open the trial, no legal representation appeared, and no process had been filed since 2014, when an order to re-open the case was granted in its favour.

Paul Daudu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) representing Al-Mustapha, informed the Justices that Lagos State had not taken any steps to implement the 2014 order to reopen the trial.

He said that not even a notice of appeal had been filed by Lagos as the appellant to demonstrate its seriousness in prosecuting the trial.

Daudu noted that when the order to reopen the trial was granted in 2014, Lagos State was issued a 30-day ultimatum to file its notice of appeal.

He explained that more than 11 years later, nothing had been done to comply with the order.

He therefore urged the Court to hold that the appellant had abandoned the case and should have it dismissed in its entirety.

Justice Uwani Aba-Aji, who presided over the matter, sought to know if Lagos had been served with the hearing notice, a question answered in the affirmative by the Registrar of the Court.

In a brief ruling, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision, agreed that Lagos had lost interest in the matter and had consequently abandoned it.

Justice Aba-Aji held that nine years was long enough for the appellant to have filed a notice of appeal and the brief of appeal.

The Court also expressed disapproval that no legal representation had been made by the state government, while no information was provided to the Court or the respondent, despite being served with the hearing notice since 2020.

Consequently, the matter marked SC/CR/45/2014 was dismissed. Another matter by the Lagos governor, marked SC/CR/6/2014, on the same trial was also dismissed on the same ground.

The Supreme Court had in 2014, in a ruling on Lagos State’s application for permission to re-open the case out of time, granted the request to challenge the Court of Appeal decision of July 12, 2013, which discharged and acquitted Al-Mustapha in the murder case.

The then Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen, in a ruling of a seven-member panel, ordered Lagos State to file its notice of appeal within 30 days.

The decision followed the consent of Al-Mustapha’s lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu SAN, not to oppose the application, which was argued by Osunsanya Oluwayemisi, a Senior State Counsel in the Lagos Ministry of Justice.

The Acting CJN had said that by the decision of the apex court, the time for Lagos to appeal against the Court of Appeal’s findings on the high-profile murder case had been extended from July 12, 2013, when the Court of Appeal judgment was delivered, until January 7, 2014.

By the permission granted in 2014, Lagos was cleared to challenge the not-guilty verdict granted in favour of the military officer by the Court of Appeal in 2013.

In the attempt to re-open the case, Lagos State had sought to file a notice of appeal out of time at the Supreme Court, asking for permission to challenge the Court of Appeal’s findings by Justices Amina Adamu Augie, Rita Nosakhare Pemu, and Fatimo Omoro Akinbami, on the grounds of miscarriage of justice.

The state had prayed the apex court to allow it to exercise its constitutional right to test the validity and correctness of the Court of Appeal decision.

It argued that it wanted to raise grounds of appeal on arguable legal and factual issues, especially regarding whether there was any direct or circumstantial evidence establishing Al-Mustapha’s guilt in the murder case.

Lagos State explained that the delay in filing the appeal was due to setting up two legal teams to review the circumstances of the case and the Court of Appeal verdict.

The government said it took time for the two legal teams to present their findings and recommend that an appeal could be filed and sustained.

The state government said it would ask the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment, which discharged and acquitted Major Hamza Al-Mustapha in the murder case of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.

It intended to urge the apex court to uphold and restore the death sentence by hanging imposed on the former CSO to the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, by a Lagos High Court on January 30, 2012.

Al-Mustapha, Mohammed Abacha, and one Lateef Shofolahan were arraigned before a Lagos High Court on a two-count criminal charge of conspiracy to commit murder and the murder of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola on June 4, 1996, in Lagos State.

In a judgment delivered on January 30, 2012, by Justice Moji Dada, the accused were found culpable as charged and sentenced to death by hanging.

However, in an appeal approached by Al-Mustapha on April 27, 2012, the three-member Court of Appeal, in a unanimous judgment on July 12, 2013, set aside the high court decision, discharged, and acquitted the accused on the grounds that the evidence against them was insufficient to warrant the death sentence.

 

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Ayo Labinjoh Accuses Davido's Father Of Intimidation Over Paternity Crisis

Ayo Labinjoh, the mother of the teenage girl claiming to be the daughter of Nigerian singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has accused the singer’s father, Dr Deji Adeleke of intimidation and interfering in a matter she insists should be addressed directly by Davido himself.

In a statement posted on her daughter’s Instagram page, Labinjoh said she was shocked to learn that her sister had allegedly been in contact with Dr Adeleke since 2020.

Labinjoh further alleged that Davido, rather than his father, should take responsibility for addressing the matter.

She accused Dr Adeleke of abusing his influence and wealth.

“I am not Sophia negotiating child support. Let Davido address me.” Labinjoh wrote. She also insisted that her daughter’s case was about identity, not money.

She warned that if anything happened to herself, her daughter, or her mother, law enforcement should hold Dr Adeleke responsible.

Labinjoh alleged that her sister, Titilayo Labinjoh, had contacted their mother from Abuja to express fear over the renewed media attention surrounding Anu.

She questioned why her sister was in communication with the Adeleke family, describing it as a betrayal.

She also disputed claims made earlier by Dr Adeleke regarding DNA tests.

According to Labinjoh, neither she nor her daughter met with Dr Adeleke in 2020 for additional DNA tests, contrary to public statements.

She maintained that the DNA process referenced by the Adeleke family was flawed and reiterated her demand that all test results be made public.

“Post the tests, sir,” she wrote, addressing Dr Adeleke directly.

The statement also revisited claims surrounding the management of Anu’s social media presence.

Labinjoh acknowledged that controversial blogger Dr Kemi Olunloyo had opened the Instagram page years ago and handed it over to the family in 2019.

She said she was not an active social media user and did not post for several years. According to her, Anu currently lives with her grandmother, while she travels for trading activities across border countries.

Labinjoh denied allegations that her daughter had ever met Davido’s cousin, Adebayo Adeleke, also known as B Red, or that he was involved in the DNA controversy. She said such claims were speculative and harmful.

Her statement comes after Davido’s father, Dr Deji Adeleke, told journalists earlier that DNA tests conducted in Lagos returned negative results and that the family had supported the child and her mother financially over the years. He insisted he would accept the child if science proved paternity.

Labinjoh, however, disputes those claims and insists that her daughter is seeking clarity, not conflict. “My daughter is fighting for her identity,” she said, adding that prolonged public debate and harsh language have affected Anu’s mental health.

 

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Davido Reacts After Father Clears Him In Paternity Dispute

Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reacted after his father, Dr Deji Adeleke, publicly confirmed that DNA tests cleared him in the long-running paternity dispute involving a girl identified as Aanu.

The singer took to his X page on Thursday and wrote, “Thank you my loving Father … ❤️🙏”

Adeleke had earlier disclosed the development while speaking with journalists at his residence in Lagos on Wednesday, where he explained that multiple DNA tests conducted in Lagos confirmed that Davido is not the biological father of the child.

He said the issue dated back to 2014 when he received a legal letter from Ibadan alleging that his son had impregnated a woman, Ayo Labinjoh, who claimed Davido abandoned the child.

The businessman, who said he has 14 grandchildren, insisted that he had no issue accepting another child if science confirmed the claim.

He said, “I have 14 grandchildren, so what will one more do? Is it that I will not be able to afford to do things for her or bring her into my family? I want more grandchildren, but there is science — DNA. If you say you are my granddaughter and science has proven that you are my granddaughter, I would gladly accept you.”

He further revealed that three DNA tests were conducted for Davido. Two returned negative results, while the third was declared inconclusive due to contamination. To eliminate any doubt of mistaken identity, tests were also carried out for Davido’s cousin, Adebayo Adeleke, known as B Red, which equally returned negative.

Narrating how the process began, Adeleke said he contacted the child’s mother directly and made it clear he would accept the girl if the tests proved positive.

“Immediately I saw this letter, even before calling David, I called this woman and said, ‘Look, I’m not speaking to my son yet, but I’m going to speak to him. But I’ll suggest to you to give me your address in Ibadan. I’ll send my driver to come and know where you live, but I can assure you that if this girl is my granddaughter, you have no problems with me; I’ll welcome her into my family happily.’ She was happy. She gave me her address, and I gave the address to my driver.”

He explained how the samples were taken at Vedic Hospital in Lagos, adding that the test was conducted using saliva samples, not blood.

“So we were all in the same room, and he (the doctor) told us the procedure. It was not blood. I’ve read on social media that they were drawing blood. It’s not. It was not done by blood. It was from their saliva in their mouth. And he told us that these samples would be sent to South Africa for analysis. The grandmother of the baby and I signed that both of us would be the ones to receive the result.”

He revealed the outcome.

“When the result came, there was 0.00 possibility that Davido was the girl’s father. Another test, he said, also turned negative.”

Despite the outcome, Adeleke disclosed that the family had supported the child and her mother financially over the years, including sponsoring their education. He said the mother later dropped out of university while the child completed her primary education.

The issue resurfaced publicly on January 15, 2025, when an Instagram account believed to be linked to Labinjoh appealed to Davido, alleging the child was being bullied and demanded another DNA test.

Davido responded on X, saying, “After five DNA tests… she dey crase… she and her mom better leave me the f**k alone and go find her papa.”

The woman later released alleged private messages between Davido and the child online.

Adeleke, however, claimed that a sister of the girl later informed him that the social media accounts used to push the narrative were allegedly created and managed by a media personality without the family’s approval.

 

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