A former Chairman of Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has asked a Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, to declare that his former mistress, Adaobi Alagwu’s daughter, is not his biological child.
Ayeni and Alagwu have been embroiled in a paternity dispute since 2022, with Alagwu insisting that Ayeni fathered the child, a claim he vehemently denies.
During court proceedings on Monday, Ayeni, through his lawyer Silas Onu, stated that he was never married to Alagwu and urged the court to officially declare the same. He recounted that although he initially paid money to Alagwu’s father, which was described as dowry, it was later refunded, further reinforcing his stance that no marriage existed between them.
“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 told the court.
He explained that he only agreed to the payment at the time to allow the child to bear his surname, believing the child to be his. However, upon discovering otherwise, he formally rejected paternity claims and demanded the refund of his money.
Ayeni also alleged that Alagwu had multiple relationships with other men, asserting that she could not categorically claim the child was his. He further emphasized that the child does not resemble him, citing physical traits such as flat feet, which he claimed do not run in his family.
“I have three children with my wife, and none of them are flat-footed,” he stated, adding that he had never doubted the paternity of his other children, as they all bore a striking resemblance to him.
When asked if he would consent to another DNA test, Ayeni refused, insisting that other men who had been involved with Alagwu should also take the test to determine paternity.
“If I am to submit for another DNA test, at least my colleagues that I know were also in a relationship with her should do the same,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alagwu, in her counterclaim, dismissed Ayeni’s assertions, maintaining that a customary marriage was conducted in 2022. She also stated that Ayeni named the child at birth and that his name appears on both the birth certificate and birth register in California, USA.
She further disclosed that a DNA test had already been conducted at the DNA Diagnostic Centre in London, with results showing a 99.9999997% probability that Ayeni is the child’s biological father.
Despite this, Ayeni continues to dispute the test results, alleging a campaign of falsehood against him and his wife by Alagwu.
The court has scheduled March 4 for Alagwu’s defense and the hearing of her counterclaim.
