The Truth Behind Adaobi Alagwu and Tunde Ayeni’s Misleading Marriage.
Adaobi Alagwu, a legal practitioner and entrepreneur, has accused Nigerian businessman Tunde Ayeni, former Skye Bank chairman, of deceiving her into a customary marriage by misrepresenting his marital status. In a statement issued on July 10, 2025, through her legal team, Indemnity Partners, led by Chief B.C. Igwilo (SAN), Alagwu claimed Ayeni told her he was married under customary law, which permitted him to take another wife, leading to their relationship and a purported customary marriage in 2019.
She alleges this union produced a daughter, Omarosa Abimbola Ayeni, born in the United States in 2022, with Ayeni named as the father on the child’s birth certificate and international passport. Alagwu further stated that Ayeni personally funded a DNA test at the DNA Diagnostics Centre (DDC) in the UK, which confirmed his paternity with 99.9999% certainty.
She described Ayeni’s subsequent public denials and his July 2025 THISDAY interview, titled “I Regret Ever Meeting Adaobi Alagwu,” as false, defamatory, and a distraction from the paternity dispute. Her legal team also refuted claims that she tampered with the DNA process or hacked Ayeni’s wife’s email, calling such allegations baseless.
Ayeni, however, has consistently denied these claims. On March 11, 2025, a Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, ruled in his favor, declaring no marriage existed between him and Alagwu, citing his legal marriage to Biola Ayeni under the Marriage Act since 1994, which renders any other union invalid.
Ayeni’s legal team, led by Joseph Silas, dismissed Alagwu’s marriage claims and disputed the DNA test’s validity, alleging irregularities and tampering, including unauthorized access to email communications.
Ayeni swore an affidavit on September 12, 2024, denying any marital or paternal ties to Alagwu or her daughter and sought to invalidate the use of his surname on Omarosa’s documents via the Nigerian Immigration Service. He also accused Alagwu of blackmail, including threats to leak private images, and attempting to claim two Abuja properties entrusted to her.
The dispute escalated after Alagwu’s family returned the dowry on February 26, 2025, which Ayeni’s team claimed was misrepresented as a gift, not a marriage rite. Alagwu’s repeated absence from court hearings, citing medical reasons, and her continued public assertions have fueled controversy, with Ayeni’s wife, Biola, labeling her a “gold digger” in a 2023 THISDAY interview. Public sentiment on X and media platforms like Linda Ikeji’s Blog is polarized, with some criticizing Alagwu for clinging to a “sinking ship” and others urging Ayeni to accept responsibility if the DNA evidence holds, emphasizing the child’s welfare.
The case remains contentious, with Alagwu’s team threatening further legal action against Ayeni for defamation, while Ayeni pursues recovery of properties and maintains his denials, backed by the court’s ruling
⚖️ No Marriage Found
- In March 2025, a Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja ruled that no legal or customary marriage existed between Adaobi Alagwu and Tunde Ayeni, stating there was insufficient evidence and noting Ayeni was already legally married since 1994
- Ayeni’s lawyers emphasized that the customary rite he performed in February 2022 was a gesture of generosity, not a dowry for marriage—without any promise of wedlock .
👶 Disputed Paternity & DNA Showdown
- Alagwu maintains Ayeni is the biological father of her daughter Omarosa, citing a DNA test from the UK. Ayeni categorically denies paternity, claiming the DNA results were fabricated—even alleged email tampering with the testing centre.
- The court dismissed her claims entirely, and Ayeni has withdrawn any financial obligation, requesting that Alagwu vacate properties he entrusted to her.
🏠 Dowry & Asset Recovery
- Alagwu’s family returned the dowry amid the dispute and court proceedings.
- Ayeni is now seeking to reclaim two Abuja properties she and her mother currently occupy, asserting they are trustees and lack legitimate ownership.
🗣️ Ayeni Speaks O
- In interviews, Ayeni expressed regret over ever meeting Alagwu and described the ordeal as a time of deception, legal testimonies, and personal reckoning—ultimately emphasizing focus on family and legacy.
✅ Summary
| Claim | Court & Ayeni’s Position | Alagwu’s Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Marriage | No recognized marriage; existing legal marriage invalidates any other union. | Customary rites held; bride price paid, genuine marriage. |
| Paternity | Denies any paternal relation; DNA test is fake; court dismissed paternity claim. | UK DNA test confirms Ayeni is father. |
| Assets | Demands vacating of properties; dowry already returned. | She initially held dowry and properties as trustees. |
The court’s ruling firmly supports Ayeni’s rebuttals and legal actions, dismissing Alagwu’s claims as unfounded. Ayeni has resolved the issues—marriage, paternity, property—and is now actively seeking to recover assets and put the episode behind him.
Let me know if you’d like coverage of any appeals, developments in asset retrieval, or broader implications for customary marriage disputes in Nigeria.
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