Esther Salifu
Tunde Ayeni, former Chairman of Skye Bank, has petitioned a Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Abuja to declare that Adaobi Alagwu’s daughter is not his.
Ayeni and Alagwu have been embroiled in a paternity dispute since 2022. While Alagwu insists that Ayeni is the father, he has repeatedly denied it.
Ayeni testified that he paid money to Alagwu’s father as a dowry, but only because he believed the child was his at the time. However, he stressed that he was never married to Alagwu and has since demanded a refund of the money, which was returned to him.
“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 s
“The father said according to Igbo tradition, there must be money paid to her for the child not to bear his (Ms. Alagwu’s father’s) name. And, that as a traditional chief, it was important for me to do it to avoid the shame to him and his family and for me to avoid the traditional consequence.”
“I agreed, but it was not for marriage, because I explained that I am married under the Act and I cannot conduct any other legal union.”
Alagwu, on the other hand, claims that Ayeni acknowledged paternity of the child, naming her and including her in the birth register of the State of California. She also alleges that a DNA test conducted at Ayeni’s chosen hospital confirmed him as the biological father with a 99.9999997% probability.
“The Respondent later received the DNA Test Report with Ref. No.0Z5167 shows a probability of 99.9999997 % that John Olatunde Ayeni is Baby Ayeni’s biological father.
The complainant, who is also known as J.0.Ayeni, gave Baby Ayeni, his first, middle and surname, which she bears to date.
“The complainant, John Olatunde Ayeni, is acknowledged as the father of baby Ayeni in her birth certificate.
“The complainant, John Olatunde Ayeni, is also acknowledged in the birth register of the State of California as the father of baby Ayeni. Naming baby Ayeni and the municipal registrations referred where all done by the complainant’s conscious decision,” she stated.
She added that the DNA test on the baby was carried out in a reputable hospital of Ayeni’s choice.
The court has set March 4 as the date for Alagwu’s defense and the hearing of her counter-claim. Ayeni’s lawyer, Silas Onu, has maintained that Ayeni is not the father of the child, and Ayeni himself has stated that he will only agree to another DNA test if the other men in Alagwu’s life also come forward .
