A Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, has ruled that no marriage existed between former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni and his former mistress, Abuja ba
A Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, has ruled that no marriage existed between former Skye Bank chairman Tunde Ayeni and his former mistress, Abuja based lawyer, Adaobi Alagwu, despite the fact that the relationship produced a daughter.
In its judgment on suit FCT/CC/CV/DKDK, delivered on Tuesday, the court ruled that Alagwu’s claim lacks merit, citing statutory limitations under the Marriage Act.
The ruling came after Ayeni sought legal confirmation that his alleged marriage to Alagwu was invalid.
The case, which began on 26 February, centred on the legitimacy of a purported marriage.
Ayeni contended that he never married Alagwu and that any payments made were strictly for the child, following pressure from Alagwu’s father. He further argued that his existing marriage to Abiola Ayeni, solemnised in 1994 under the Marriage Act, rendered any alleged union with Alagwu legally void.
Alagwu challenged the court’s jurisdiction, arguing it lacked the authority to hear the case.
However, the court ruled otherwise, stating that the dispute was not between Ayeni and his legally wedded wife but between him and Alagwu. It also noted that Alagwu had admitted to returning the money paid under customary rites, nullifying any jurisdictional limitation claim.
During court proceedings, Ayeni’s counsel, Joseph Silas, argued that Alagwu resorted to blackmail after Ayeni withdrew a N5 million monthly allowance he had given her. He also requested that she vacate a N400 million property in Jabi, Abuja, which she occupied.
Silas asserted that Alagwu continued to claim a marital relationship with Ayeni despite having no legal or customary basis. He urged the court to issue a pronouncement clarifying that no marriage ever existed between the two parties.
A significant point of contention in the case was the paternity of Alagwu’s daughter, Omarosa.
Ayeni denied fathering the child and called for DNA tests for Alagwu’s other alleged partners. His legal team accused Alagwu’s father, a self-proclaimed high chief, of coercing Ayeni into accepting responsibility for the child to avoid cultural disgrace.
Ayeni alleged that the DNA test results presented by Alagwu were fraudulent. He claimed the test centre had denied issuing certain documents, raising doubts about the validity of the results. According to Ayeni, a second DNA test at an independent centre was proposed, but Alagwu refused.
The court ultimately ruled in Ayeni’s favour, affirming that no marriage existed between him and Alagwu. It dismissed all of Alagwu’s claims and upheld Ayeni’s argument that his legally recognised marriage to Ayeni rendered any other purported marriage invalid.
Alagwu, who missed multiple court appearances, had previously filed a jurisdictional challenge, arguing that the court lacked the authority to hear the case.
However, after reviewing both sides’ arguments, the three-member panel, led by Adlin Achoru, dismissed her objections and proceeded with the ruling.
With the ruling now in Ayeni’s favour, Alagwu can now appeal.
