Nigerian music star Davido is facing a ₦1 billion legal threat as the seven-day compliance window in a pre-action notice issued against him in late February 2026 is reported to be closing around March 4, 2026.
The pre-action notice, dated February 24, 2026, was issued by Ebelechukwu Egeonu Enedah, a Lagos-based lawyer representing Sophia Momodu in her ongoing custody dispute with Davido over their daughter, Imade Adeleke.
The custody dispute between Davido and Momodu dates back to June 2024 when the singer approached the Lagos State High Court seeking joint custody of Imade under Suit No. LD/1587PMC/2024.
He later clarified that he was seeking joint custody, not full custody.
Tensions reportedly escalated during a hearing at the Lagos State High Court on February 12, 2026.
According to the pre-action notice, Enedah alleged that Davido became verbally aggressive toward her during cross-examination.
The notice further stated that the court directed him to apologise in open court, but he reportedly declined.
Following the hearing, Davido took to his verified social media accounts to express frustration about the proceedings.
He claimed that opposing counsel referenced his late son during cross-examination, describing it publicly as a “low blow.”
In the pre-action notice, Enedah’s legal team stated that the singer’s online comments amounted to cyberbullying, harassment, and defamation, exposing her to public ridicule, reputational damage, emotional distress, and threats to her safety.
The notice demanded that Davido immediately cease all public commentary regarding her and the custody matter while the case remains before the court.
It also requested a full retraction of the alleged defamatory statements and an unreserved public apology on all his verified social media accounts.
Additionally, the notice required that the apology be published in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and that Davido instruct his followers to desist from any harassment, threats, or intimidation directed at Enedah and her family.
A total of ₦1,000,000,000 was demanded as compensation for reputational harm, emotional distress, and security concerns.
The pre-action notice gave the singer seven days from receipt to comply with the demands.
While the exact date of receipt is unknown, the compliance period is understood to be closing around March 4, 2026.
Failure to comply may result in the filing of a substantive defamation lawsuit at the Lagos State High Court.
As of March 4, 2026, Davido has not released an official public statement addressing the ₦1 billion demand. No formal defamation suit has yet been filed.
Under Nigerian civil procedure, a pre-action notice serves as a formal warning and an opportunity to resolve disputes before litigation begins.
The custody dispute between Davido and Sophia Momodu remains ongoing before the court.
Legal analysts say the coming days will be crucial in determining whether the matter escalates into a full-blown defamation trial or is resolved privately.