Nigerian businessman and former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank, Tunde Ayeni, has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons and from the look of things, his woes seem to be growing by the day.
In a classic gentleman style, Ayeni made an attempt to put the recurring episodes of bad press behind him when he issued a statement a few weeks ago addressing some of the issues.
In his words, “As a reputable businessman, industrialist and corporate player, I have no time for frivolous and sensational stories and should not be distracted by such publications. I sincerely wish that the media will, with this statement of mine, desist from any further maligning of my person, my family and all that I represent in the society.”
Ayeni’s woes all began when news of his romantic escapade with an Abuja-based lawyer named, Adaobi Alagwu, hit the press. According to Sahara Reporters, Ayeni had an extra marital affair with Adaobi Alagwu, and their relationship, though toxic as described by those who know them, resulted in a child that he denied. Even though Ayeni and Adaobi’s relationship was well known in social circles in Abuja, they allegedly flaunted it thus making his initial denial of their relationship and alleged child laughable. “Realising how badly the relationship impugned on his image, he attempted to save himself by denying that there was a relationship” one of his associates was quoted to have said.
Ayeni made moves several months ago by issuing a press statement admitting that their relationship was a mistake and also denying the paternity of a child he allegedly fathered with Adaobi. This press release from him is presumed to have opened more cans of worms over the next couple of weeks as new revelations flooded the media space about his affair with Adaobi.
Multiple media reports about his relationship with Adaobi led to the press digging into his businesses, debts with AMCON and his recent political foray and association with the PDP.
In 2022, the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) took over the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Ltd. The action followed a judgement by the Federal High Court which granted orders in favour of AMCON as Receiver/Manager of Integrated Energy Distribution and Marketing (IEDM) Limited, IBEDC’s core investor, over defaults in a Loan Service Agreement with Polaris Bank involving Ayeni.
It was also reported that during the heat of his media battle with Adaobi Alagwu, policemen acting on the orders of Adaobi Alagwu arrested and subsequently detained the editor and a reporter of TheNewsGuru.com, Ediri Oyibo, and Paul Utebor. The journalists were arrested by the officers from Nigeria Police Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja on Wednesday, February 22, following a petition by Adaobi. She was said to have accused them of publishing a story which she described to be defamatory, on the paternity of her child with Ayeni.
With all these going on and the failure of the PDP at the February 25 presidential polls, Ayeni is now said to have begun consultations, visitations and begging his perceived enemies and allies in the ruling party to seek their good graces. His emissaries are said to be knocking on doors, kneeling, prostrating and begging on his behalf.
Ayeni’s latest moves, including being the head huncho and strategist coordinating the election petition tribunal team for the PDP begs the questions; would he have been humble had PDP won the elections? Would he be reaching out with olive branches if he was in power or is it all a move to save his reputation and dwindling finances? Will he ever be held accountable for being a serial failure at the highest levels with strings of businesses run to the ground?
Many might wonder why Ayeni has continued to feature in the media space and some might even dismiss his news as a calculated vendetta against his person. Truth is this is a great story not only from the point of a constructive and investigative journalism perspective, but also from that of a yearning, growing society of discernment which continues to call for accountability.
One thing is, however, clear. In the middle of all the crises Ayeni seems to be facing, he remains one of the few Nigerians with access within the corridors of power, but his reputation with multiple failed businesses, paternity scandal, multiple relationship scandals, leaves him in a precarious position.
… Muhammad, a public affairs analyst, writes from Abuja
