King Sunny Ade
By Shade Damiro
One of the daughters of Nigeria’s legendary juju musician, King Sunny Ade, Damilola Esther Adeniyi-Adegeye
has said that her father has refused to mourn her sister who died recently. She declared her father “missing” while pointing fingers squarely at his manager and stepbrother, Dayo Adegeye.
According to Damilola, the 78-year-old music icon has been unreachable for weeks, with his manager allegedly moving him from one hotel to another while isolating him from his immediate family.
The disturbing claims first surfaced on Monday, April 28, 2025, when media personality @Akanbitheduke raised the alarm on Instagram, citing frantic efforts by close associates to locate the veteran juju musician
Sources close to the family say Sunny Ade, fondly called KSA, has been kept away under suspicious circumstances, with allegations that he is being forced to continue performing despite his failing health and personal grief including the recent loss of one of his daughters.
“The last time Damilola spoke to him, he sounded very distressed. Before he could say much, the phone was snatched from him. Since then, all attempts to reach him have failed,” Akanbi reported.
In emotional posts on social media, Damilola accused the manager and his cohorts of drugging the septuagenarian with sleeping pills to manage his insomnia, while exploiting him for financial gain.
She claimed they were controlling his finances, forcing him to sign up for gigs he could no longer handle, and denying him access to his home and office.
“They are keeping him in different hotels, away from his family, pumping him with sleeping medications! My dad just lost his daughter and hasn’t even had time to mourn, yet they keep dragging him from show to show. I want my dad free from their bondage,” Damilola lamented.
Screenshots of alleged conversations between Damilola, family members, and the manager, Dayo, have also surfaced online, further fuelling public concern.
However, a close aide of the music legend, who spoke on condition of anonymity, dismissed the claims as “fake news,” stating that KSA was seen in Lagos State over the weekend performing at a party.
“We are on top of the situation,” the aide said, without providing concrete evidence to dispel the growing fears.
