Court Rejects Fmr. Beauty Queen’s Claim, Says Adenike Ajayi Sole Lawful Widow Of First Foundation Hospital Founder

In a landmark judgment, Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja,  has stated that separation does not end a marriage. The Court thus vindicated Adenike Oluwayemisi Ajayi as the sole and lawful widow of the late founder and Chief Executive Officer of First Foundation Hospital, Dr. Tosin Ajayi.

The verdict, delivered by Justice Odusanya finally brought to an end the protracted legal battle over the deceased’s marital status and Estate.

Before now, former Beauty Queen, Helen Prest, had claimed that she was also a spouse to the late Medical Practitioner, but the judgment has  dismissed her claim.

The Court also granted all the reliefs sought by the deceased’s wife both of whom had been separated from each other for years and her Children.

Recall that the legal battle over the ownership of the Estate of the deceased began in 2021, following Dr. Ajayi’s death on April 26, 2020, and centred on competing claims over his estate and the identity of his lawful surviving spouse.

The proceedings lasted nearly five years before the Court delivered its verdict.

The Court also held that Adenike Ajayi remained the only legally married Wife to the late Medical practitioner until his death, noting that their monogamous marriage was never dissolved.

Justice Odusanya also rejected the argument that the couple’s prolonged separation amounted to a termination of their marriage.

According to the Judge, separation, regardless of how long it lasts, does not automatically dissolve a legally valid marriage. It also agreed with the submissions of counsel to the claimants, Kunle Adegoke, SAN, that the marriage between the deceased and his legally married wife subsisted throughout the lifetime of the deceased.

Prest had raised a major issue before the Court that she had contracted a Kalabari Customary Marriage with the deceased, but the Court held that Prest failed to provide credible evidence to prove the alleged Customary Marriage.