In a significant legal ruling, the Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, has declared that no marriage ever existed between former Skye Bank chairman, Tunde Ayeni, and female lawyer Adaobi Alagwu. The court’s decision, delivered on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, effectively dismissed all claims by Adaobi regarding the existence of a marital relationship.
The legal battle between Ayeni and Alagwu, which has been the subject of public scrutiny since 2023, centered on allegations of paternity and the validity of a customary marriage. At the heart of the case was the question of whether Ayeni fathered a baby girl with Adaobi—a claim he has consistently denied.
Background of the Dispute
SaharaReporters first broke the story on January 16, 2023, revealing a paternity dispute between the Nigerian businessman and his former lover. According to reports, friends and family members accused Ayeni of fathering a child with Adaobi, a claim he refuted despite acknowledging their romantic involvement.
Their relationship, which reportedly began in 2019, became the subject of intense public interest due to their connections to influential figures within Abuja’s elite social circles.
Although Ayeni admitted to having an affair with Adaobi, he maintained that he was not the biological father of her child. In his suit, marked FCT/CC/CV/DKDK, he sought a court declaration affirming that no marriage existed between them and that he was not the child’s father.
Court Proceedings and Arguments
During the proceedings, Ayeni claimed he was coerced into paying a dowry under duress from Adaobi’s family, arguing that he did so without understanding the implications under her native laws and customs. His legal team further asserted that any payment made was solely for the child’s welfare—not as a formal act of marriage.
However, Adaobi countered these assertions by presenting a DNA test conducted in London, UK. According to her, the test—bearing report reference number 0Z5167—confirmed Ayeni as the biological father with 99.9% certainty.
Despite these findings, Ayeni disputed the DNA results, alleging that they had been manipulated. He further accused Adaobi of engaging in blackmail after he discontinued the monthly financial support he had provided her up until October 2024.
Ayeni also revealed that, in addition to monetary assistance, he had purchased a property in the upscale Jabi district of Abuja. He claimed that he initially entrusted the property to Adaobi but later requested that she vacate the premises after discovering that the child was not his.
Legal Arguments on Marriage Validity
A critical aspect of Ayeni’s case rested on the validity of his existing marriage. He argued that his marriage to Mrs. Abiola Ayeni, conducted under the Marriage Act since 1994, rendered any claims of a marital relationship with Adaobi legally null and void.
His legal counsel, Joseph Silas, emphasized that any purported marriage to Adaobi could not be recognized under Nigerian law due to the subsistence of his statutory marriage to Mrs. Ayeni. Silas further alleged that Adaobi’s legal maneuvers were motivated by financial gain after Ayeni ceased providing financial assistance.
Adaobi, on her part, contended that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter. However, the court rejected this argument, ruling that the case was not a marital dispute between Ayeni and his legal wife but rather a distinct matter concerning the alleged relationship between Ayeni and Adaobi.
The Court’s Ruling
In its judgment, the court sided with Ayeni’s argument that no legal or customary marriage existed between him and Adaobi. The court found that Ayeni’s payment to Adaobi’s family was not a formal dowry and did not meet the legal threshold required to constitute a valid marriage under customary law.
A source within the court disclosed to SaharaReporters that Adaobi’s claims were dismissed due to her acknowledgment that the payments had been returned under native customs. This admission undermined her assertion that a valid marriage existed.
“The court found that Alagwu’s claims lacked merit, citing clear statutory limitations defined by the Marriage Act,” the source revealed. “Since Adaobi admitted that the money had been returned according to the customary native law and customs, she could not now turn around to rely on jurisdiction.”
The ruling further affirmed that Ayeni’s statutory marriage to Mrs. Abiola Ayeni remained the only valid marital union, invalidating any claims of a marital relationship with Adaobi.
“In conclusion, the court affirmed that no marriage ever existed between Tunde Ayeni and Adaobi Alagwu, and all of Alagwu’s claims were rejected,” the source added.
Implications of the Verdict
The judgment marks a decisive victory for Ayeni, as it not only clears his name regarding the paternity allegations but also underscores the legal sanctity of his existing marriage.
While the court’s decision may bring closure to Ayeni, it also raises broader questions about the legal recognition of customary marriages and the evidentiary standards required to establish paternity claims in Nigerian courts.
With the ruling now delivered, the case draws to a close—at least in the legal arena. However, the personal and social ramifications of the dispute will likely linger, as both parties navigate the fallout from a highly publicized and contentious battle.
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