Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of the board of directors, Skye Bank Plc, has alleged that Adaobi Alagwu, an Abuja-based lawyer, is seeking an out-of-court settlement in their intense and publicized dispute.
Ayeni, in a statement released on Monday, said he rejected the overtures, insisting that the matter must be settled in a court of law to fully restore his damaged reputation.
The conflict began when Alagwu claimed she had a relationship with Ayeni in 2019 and subsequently gave birth to his child in the United States in 2022.
Ayeni has consistently denied the allegations, stating he is “not in any way connected to the child”.
The businessman sought legal confirmation that no marriage existed between them, a claim a customary court later upheld, ruling that his legal marriage since 1994 to Biola Ayeni rendered any other alleged union invalid.
The case took a turn when a DNA test report was presented, allegedly showing a “99.9999997% probability of paternity,” identifying Ayeni as the biological father.
Ayeni, however, dismissed the report as “fake and compromised,” citing “irregularities in the DNA testing process”.
In the recent statement, Ayeni said Alagwu has “made settlement overtures through back-door channels”.
He also suggested the sudden shift may be influenced by her alleged upcoming marriage, a motivation he called insignificant to his own priorities.
The businessman explained that accepting a private settlement would downplay the gravity of the accusations and the harm inflicted on him and his family.
Ayeni also declared his intent to see the case through to a public, legal conclusion. He said he is committed to testifying in open court on the scheduled dates in November 2025 and February 2026.
He also issued a firm request to his friends and associates, asking them to cease all contact or discussion regarding Alagwu and her family, stating he now considers even the mention of her name a “personal insult”.
“I am aware that recent reports have emerged regarding lawyer Adaobi Alagwu’s decision to pursue an out-of-court settlement in the ongoing dispute. I confirm that through back-door channels, Alagwu has indeed made overtures towards settling this matter outside the courtroom,” the statement reads.
“This development, I must say, was unexpected given the significant public attention and embarrassment it has garnered, together with the reputational damages it has inflicted on me, my family, and my loved ones.
“It is evident that Alagwu’s pursuit of a settlement may have been influenced by her alleged pending marriage. However, I must emphasize that such motivations hold no significance for me.
“My primary concern remains the restoration of my reputation, which has been severely impacted negatively by this controversy.
“Despite these attempts, I am resolute in my decision to reject any private offers for settlement. The allegations have caused severe damage to my reputation publicly, and I am committed to seeking full legal redress publicly.
“Accepting a private settlement would undermine the gravity of the accusations and the harm they have inflicted on my person, my family, loved ones, and their sense of trust in me.
“The matter is currently before a competent court, and I am determined that it should be allowed to reach a decisive and vindicating conclusion.
“I am also using this medium to notify all my friends and associates to refrain from involving in anything concerning Adaobi. I no longer consider even the mention of her name as a friendly gesture, and I now regard same as a personal insult to me. Adaobi, her mother, or any member of her family are no longer a subject matter outside the litigations pending in court. No one should act as intermediaries to reach me on this matter, please.
“As emphasised before now, I plan to testify in open court on the 25th of November 2025, and on the 17th of February 2026, God-willing, and I expect her presence in court, rather than avoiding the proceedings as she did at the customary court.
“I have maintained complete transparency on this matter since the beginning of this unfortunate saga. I acknowledge the role I have played in this situation and I am actively working to move past it, trusting in the justice system to uphold the truth as encouraging an out-of-court settlement will give credence to their usual postulation that I am being influenced to pursue this case, because they feel that I am not a man of my own convictions, which is absolutely untrue.”
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