In a dramatic court appearance, Tunde Ayeni, the former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, has sought a Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, to officially declare that his ex-mistress, Adaobi Alagwu’s daughter, is not his child. The legal tussle, which has been ongoing since 2022, centres on a paternity dispute that has taken a personal and public turn.
Ayeni, a well-known business mogul, has been at the centre of the legal battle with Alagwu, who insists that her daughter is fathered by him. However, Ayeni has repeatedly denied the claims, insisting that the child is not his. During a hearing on Monday, Ayeni’s legal representative, Silas Onu, presented the businessman’s case, calling for a court ruling that would officially confirm his denial.
“I want a declaration that she was never my wife; we were never married, and I am not the biological father of her daughter,” Ayeni stated before the court, as his lawyer guided him through the details of the case.
Ayeni’s relationship with Alagwu has been under scrutiny since 2022 when Alagwu first claimed that Ayeni was the father of her daughter. According to Ayeni, the two were never married, and he had only made certain commitments during the pregnancy after being led to believe the child was his. In his testimony, Ayeni said that prior to the child’s birth, he had paid a dowry to Alagwu’s father, believing the child would bear his surname. However, Ayeni highlighted that this was done out of respect for Igbo tradition, not out of any marital intention.
“I agreed to the dowry to avoid any shame to her family and to ensure the child bore my name,” Ayeni explained. “But it was never for marriage. I’m already married under the law, and I cannot have another legal union.”
Ayeni also provided a copy of his marriage certificate to the court to confirm his marital status.
The situation became more complicated when Alagwu, according to Ayeni, started presenting herself as his wife and claiming to have his child. This, Ayeni said, caused significant distress to his wife, prompting him to take legal action.
A key point in the case involves a DNA test that Alagwu claims proved Ayeni is the father of her daughter. According to Alagwu’s lawyer, T.G. Okechukwu, a reputable DNA test was conducted at Ayeni’s chosen facility, DNA Diagnostic Centre in London. The test results, she argued, show an overwhelming probability of 99.9999997% that Ayeni is indeed the biological father of the child.
“Despite settled biological ties of the complainant as baby Ayeni’s father, he proposed and arranged for a DNA test to confirm the paternity beyond any doubt,” Alagwu’s counterclaim states.
However, Ayeni has rejected the test results, stating that he has never had a reason to doubt the paternity of his three children from his marriage, all of whom resemble him physically. He further stated that the child in question did not exhibit any of his physical traits, such as the family’s complexion or lack of flat feet.
“I’ve never had to do a DNA test for any of my children because they all look like me. This child does not resemble me, neither in appearance nor in any other way,” Ayeni said. He also stressed that the multiple relationships Alagwu had during their time together made it impossible for him to believe the child was his without further evidence.
Ayeni has also rejected the idea of taking another DNA test unless other men who were in relationships with Alagwu at the time are also involved in the process.
“If I am to submit for another DNA test, at least the men who were also in a relationship with her must also submit themselves to the same test,” Ayeni said. “I won’t do it if it’s only me. I need to know the truth, and I can’t be singled out in this.”
In her counterclaim, Alagwu vehemently denies Ayeni’s allegations, stating that he was fully aware of the nature of their relationship and had agreed to marry her under traditional law. She argues that Ayeni paid the customary dowry in 2022, and that the child was born during their ‘marriage,’ which she maintains was recognised by Ayeni.
Alagwu’s defence also points to the birth certificate of the child, which lists Ayeni as the father, and the municipal records in California, where the child was born, that also name Ayeni as the father.
“The complainant, who is also known as J.O. Ayeni, gave Baby Ayeni his first, middle and surname, which she bears to date,” Alagwu’s lawyer stated in the counterclaim. “The complainant is acknowledged as the father of Baby Ayeni in the birth certificate, and he made the conscious decision to name her.”
Alagwu further claims that Ayeni’s decision to arrange for a DNA test was part of a larger effort to discredit her and the child, as Ayeni allegedly continued to make denigrating remarks about them on social media.
One of the key elements of Ayeni’s case is the impact that Alagwu’s actions have had on his family. Ayeni testified that Alagwu’s public claims about their relationship and her daughter’s paternity had caused embarrassment to his wife and family. As a result, Ayeni took legal action to stop her from continuing to present herself as his wife and from claiming that the child was his.
“When reasonable discussion could not stop her from parading herself in a manner that caused my wife embarrassment, I had to resort to legal action,” Ayeni explained. He added that he had instructed his lawyer, Dele Adesina (SAN), to issue a cease-and-desist notice to Alagwu, demanding that she stop representing herself as Mrs. Ayeni.
As the case continues, both sides are adamant in their positions. Ayeni maintains that the child is not his and that he was misled into believing otherwise. Alagwu, on the other hand, insists that Ayeni is the father and that the DNA test and other evidence support her claim.
The court has now set a hearing for March 4, when Alagwu’s lawyer has stated that she will be available to present her defence. The outcome of the case will depend on the evidence presented, including the validity of the DNA test and the arguments made by both sides.
