Ex-Skye Bank Chair Accuses Former Mistress of Blackmail After Halting Allowance

Former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, told the Federal Capital Territory Customary Court in Dawaki, Abuja, on Tuesday that his ex-mistress, Adaobi Alagwu, resorted to blackmail after he stopped giving her monthly allowance in October 2024.

Ayeni revealed that, beyond the financial support, he had also purchased a property in Jabi, where he placed Alagwu as a trustee.

However, he has now asked her to vacate the residence after he discovered that Alagwu’s daughter was not fathered by him.

The estranged lovers have been entangled in a paternity dispute over Alagwu’s daughter, whose paternity Ayeni publicly denies.

Ayeni in the suit, marked FCT/CC/CV/DKDK, is asking the court to affirm that he is not the father of Alagwu’s daughter and that no marriage exists between them.

However, Alagwu insists that a DNA test conducted in London, UK, with report reference number 0Z5167, confirmed Ayeni as the child’s biological father with a 99.9 per cent probability.

Ayeni, however, disputes the test results, alleging manipulation.

During Tuesday’s hearing, Ayeni’s lawyer, Joseph Silas, informed the court that the case was slated for the petitioner’s definite defence but noted that the respondent had filed a preliminary objection.

Silas stated:“The matter today is for definite defence, and we are ready to proceed. However, they have served us with a preliminary objection.”

He explained that the respondent’s objection challenges the court’s jurisdiction, claiming the petitioner had already submitted a marriage certificate with his legal wife.

Countering this, Silas argued:“My Lord, this application is misplaced. Section 14(2) of the Customary Court Act 2007 recognises that once parties submit themselves to the court, it has jurisdiction. This suit is not about the petitioner’s statutory marriage but about confirming that no marriage exists between him and the respondent, especially since the dowry—mistakenly paid—has been refunded.”

He further urged the court to officially declare that Alagwu was never married to Ayeni, arguing that she was using this 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.”

But in response, Alagwu’s lawyer, T.G. Okechukwu, insisted that the court no longer had 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.”

After hearing arguments from both sides, the three-member panel, led by Justice Adlin Achoru, adjourned the matter until March 11 for ruling.