In a dramatic courtroom showdown, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, has ruled that no legal or customary marriage ever existed between Nigerian businessman and former Skye Bank chairman, Tunde Ayeni, and prominent lawyer Adaobi Alagwu. The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, effectively dismissed all claims made by Adaobi in their high-profile paternity dispute.
The case, which has gripped Abuja’s elite circles, centers on the controversial relationship between Ayeni and Alagwu, a scandal fueled by allegations of paternity fraud, blackmail, and financial manipulation.
The saga began when SaharaReporters first broke the news on January 16, 2023, revealing the paternity dispute involving Ayeni and Alagwu. Sources close to the businessman accused him of fathering a child with Adaobi—a claim he vehemently denied, despite acknowledging their relationship, which reportedly began in 2019.
Ayeni took the matter to court under suit number FCT/CC/CV/DKDK, requesting an official declaration that he was not the biological father of Adaobi’s daughter and that no valid marriage existed between them.
The court case became even more contentious when Adaobi produced a DNA test conducted in London, UK, with report reference number 0Z5167, which she claimed confirmed Ayeni as the child’s father with 99.9% certainty. However, Ayeni disputed the authenticity of the test results, alleging manipulation.
Beyond the paternity issue, the dispute took a darker turn when Ayeni accused Adaobi of blackmail. According to him, she resorted to threats and coercion after he stopped providing her with a monthly allowance in October 2024.
Ayeni further revealed that, in addition to financial support, he had purchased a luxury property in Jabi, where he listed Adaobi as a trustee. However, he has now demanded that she vacate the residence, asserting that recent discoveries proved he is not the child’s biological father.
The legal battle, which commenced on February 26, 2025, focused primarily on the legitimacy of an alleged marriage between Ayeni and Adaobi.
In his defense, Ayeni provided evidence of his lawful marriage to Mrs. Abiola Ayeni, which has been valid under the Marriage Act since 1994. He maintained that his existing legal marriage renders any customary marriage claims by Adaobi null and void.
The court ultimately ruled in Ayeni’s favor, citing:
The lack of formal marriage documentation between Ayeni and Adaobi.
The legal precedence of Ayeni’s marriage to Abiola Ayeni, invalidating any claims of a second marriage.
Adaobi’s own admission that the money paid had been returned under native law and customs, thereby negating her claim of marriage.
A court insider told SaharaReporters:
> “The court found that Alagwu’s claims lacked merit, citing clear statutory limitations defined by the Marriage Act. While Adaobi contended that the court lacked jurisdiction, it was determined that the case was not between Ayeni and his wife but rather between Ayeni and Adaobi Alagwu.”
Ayeni’s legal counsel, Joseph Silas, emphasized that the case was an attempt by Adaobi to use the child and the alleged marriage as leverage for financial gain.
The court, in its final ruling, categorically stated:
> “No marriage ever existed between Tunde Ayeni and Adaobi Alagwu, and all of Alagwu’s claims are hereby dismissed.”
With this ruling, Ayeni walks free from any legal obligations tied to the paternity allegations, while Adaobi faces the fallout of a case that has shaken Abuja’s high society.
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