Former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has accused his ex-mistress, Adaobi Alagwu, of blackmail after he stopped giving her a monthly allowance in October 2024.
During a hearing at the Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, on Tuesday, Ayeni revealed that aside from financial support, he had also secured a property in Jabi, where he placed Alagwu as a trustee.
However, he has now asked her to vacate the N400 million residence after discovering that her daughter was not his.
The dispute between the former lovers centers on the child’s paternity, which Ayeni publicly denies.
He has asked the court to affirm that he is not the father and that no marriage exists between them.
However, Alagwu insists that a DNA test conducted in London, with report reference number 0Z5167, confirmed Ayeni as the biological father with a 99.9 per cent probability.
Ayeni, in turn, disputes the results, alleging manipulation.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Ayeni’s lawyer, Joseph Silas, noted that the case was slated for the petitioner’s definite defense but pointed out that the respondent had filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.
According to Silas, Alagwu’s argument is based on Ayeni’s legal marriage to another woman.
Silas countered that the case was not about Ayeni’s statutory marriage but rather about clarifying that no customary marriage existed between him and Alagwu, especially as the dowry—mistakenly paid—had been refunded.
He urged the court to declare that Alagwu was never married to Ayeni and accused her of using the claim to blackmail him.
“This court must make a pronouncement on the respondent’s false claim of marriage.
“This assumption has emboldened her to continue blackmailing the petitioner after he discovered the child was not his and stopped her N5m monthly allowance in October 2024.
“He has also asked her to vacate the N400m property in Jabi, where she was only a trustee,” Silas told the court.
Alagwu’s lawyer, T.G. Okechukwu, however, argued that the court lacked jurisdiction and urged its dismissal.
“My Lord, the respondent filed a notice of preliminary objection dated February 26, 2025, pursuant to this honorable court’s rules. We urge the court to dismiss this suit for lack of jurisdiction,” Okechukwu stated.
The court is expected to rule on the preliminary objection at the next hearing.