Lawyers representing Dr. Tunde Ayeni have dismissed as false and misleading the claims by Ms. Adaobi Alagwu regarding an alleged marriage to Ayeni, a former bank managing director.
The legal representatives also refuted assertions based on an alleged DNA test that Ayeni is the father of Ms. Alagwu’s daughter, Omarosa Abimbola.
In a statement issued on Monday, Joseph Silas who is Ayeni’s lawyers emphasized the need to set the record straight, “in the interest of posterity and to ensure the truth prevails.”
The statement read in part: “On behalf of our client, Dr. Tunde Ayeni, his family, and associates, we unequivocally state his position in alignment with the legally recognized ruling of the Customary Court, Dawaki, Abuja, delivered on March 11, 2025. This landmark decision reaffirms the facts and dispels any misconceptions surrounding this matter.”
“There was no marriage between Dr. Tunde Ayeni and Adaobi Alagwu. This has been Dr. Tunde Ayeni’s position from the beginning, which the court in Abuja, in Suit FCT/CC/CV/DK/M/03/2025, has reaffirmed in its ruling delivered on March 11, 2025. The events and what transpired on February 26, 2022, was done out of Dr Ayeni’s magnanimity which the Alagwu family misrepresented to the public as a dowry. This is aside from the fact that Dr. Tunde Ayeni is legally married under the Act and thus incapable of conducting another legal union with anyone else. Neither has Dr. Ayeni ever given a promise of marriage to Adaobi Alagwu at any time.”
Ayeni contested the claim of paternity at the Dawaki Customary Court in Abuja, while Ms. Alagwu counterclaimed. The court dismissed her counterclaim entirely. The DNA result presented by Ms. Alagwu is disputed, and Dr. Ayeni does not recognize the child as his daughter.
Silas continued that “In the suit filed by Dr. Tunde Ayeni at the Dawaki Customary Court in Abuja, Dr. Ayeni contended that there was no child from the alleged union, while Adaobi counterclaimed to the contrary. The court dismissed her counterclaim in its entirety. To this end, the court upheld Dr. Tunde Ayeni’s position. The display of a purported DNA result by Ms. Alagwu is thus of no consequence, as it was a disputed DNA result to which Dr. Ayeni did not subscribe. Dr. Ayeni insists on not being the father of Omarosa Abimbola. Adaobi Alagwu can argue what she wants, the dignity attached to a child’s recognition is lost and unavailable from Dr. Ayeni to Omarosa.”
He refuted claimed that Mrs. Abiola Ayeni was aware of a relationship between her husband and Ms. Alagwu.
“Mrs. Abiola Ayeni was never aware of any relationship between her husband and Adaobi. The DNA test process was discontinued, and a request was made for an alternative laboratory, which Adaobi declined. Therefore, the DNA being peddled around by Adaobi is disputed and cannot be relied upon. There is absolutely no value that Adaobi can derive from leveraging Mrs. Abiola Ayeni’s name to this process.”
On February 26, 2022, the lawyer said Ayeni provided financial support to the Alagwu family for the child to bear his name, based on pressure from Ms. Alagwu’s father.
Silas said Ayeni seeks to reclaim two properties—DD38, Lakeview Estates, off Alex Ekwueme, Abuja—No. 48, Mike Akhigbe Street, Jabi, Abuja—entrusted to Ms. Alagwu, which she has allegedly attempted to claim as her own.
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