Court Declares Adenike Ajayi Sole Widow, Legal Beneficiary of Late Dr. Tosin Ajayi’s Estate

June 18 () — A Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has declared Mrs. Adenike Oluyemisi Ajayi the sole and lawful widow of the late Dr. Tosin Ajayi, founder and CEO of First Foundation Hospital.

Dr. Ajayi died on April 26, 2020. After his death, a dispute arose over his assets and estate, with different parties claiming the right to be recognized as his surviving spouse. The case began in 2021 and lasted nearly five years.

In a judgment delivered by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya on Wednesday, June 17, the court ruled that Adenike remained legally married to Dr. Ajayi until his death because their marriage was never formally dissolved.

Although Adenike and Dr. Ajayi had been estranged and lived apart for about 35 years, the court held that separation alone does not end a valid marriage under Nigerian lawThe

Former Miss Nigeria, Helen Prest-Ajayi, claimed she was married to the late doctor under Kalabari customary law and should be recognized as his widow.

However, the court dismissed the claim, saying she failed to provide enough evidence to prove the marriage.

The judge noted that Prest-Ajayi had given different descriptions of her relationship with Dr. Ajayi in previous court cases, describing herself at various times as a common-law partner and a civil-law spouse.

Prest-Ajayi also failed to provide important details about the alleged customary marriage, including when and where it took place.

The ruling further held that even if the marriage had been proven, it would still have been invalid because evidence showed Prest-Ajayi was legally married to another man at the time.

Justice Odusanya also ruled that Adenike Ajayi is entitled to one-third of Dr. Ajayi’s personal estate and is the only spouse qualified to apply for letters of administration over his estate.

With the judgment, Adenike Ajayi and her children secured all the reliefs they sought, while Helen Prest-Ajayi’s claims were dismissed.

Helen Prest-Ajayi, a lawyer, author, and former beauty queen, won the Miss Nigeria title in 1979 and represented Nigeria at the Miss World pageant the same year. She and the late Dr. Ajayi had a daughter together.