Janet Dare Titilayomi has refuted allegations of child kidnapping leveled against her by Ms. Alimat Idowu, describing the claims as “false and misleading.”
The controversy stems from an interview published in The Punch on September 13, 2025, where Ms. Idowu alleged that Dare abducted her daughter, Michelle Ayoka.
In a public statement released on September 14, Dare insisted that Ms. Idowu was aware when she left Libya for Italy with the child. According to her, the decision was motivated by concerns over Michelle’s safety amid the crisis in Libya.
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“I did not kidnap Michelle. Ms. Idowu was aware when I left Libya for Italy with her child,” she stated. “My intention has only been to provide a safer environment and better opportunities for her.”
She dismissed claims that she misled Ms. Idowu about her travel plans, stressing that she was transparent about her move to Italy and did not disguise it as “going to work,” as reported.
Dare emphasized that she does not dispute Idowu’s maternity, acknowledging that Michelle is her biological daughter. However, she maintained that the child remains in her custody for humanitarian reasons.
The statement further called on Ms. Idowu to seek redress in court instead of resorting to “falsehoods on social media and in the press.” Dare affirmed her readiness to defend herself before the appropriate authorities, warning that continued “defamatory statements” would prompt her to pursue legal action.
“This statement is made in good faith to set the record straight,” she concluded.
