Former aviation minister Femi Fani-Kayode has separated from his ex-beauty queen wife Precious Chikwendu.
Mr Fani-Kayode has also written a pre-litigation letter to blogger Stella Dimokorkus, demanding N2 billion from her for claiming the separation was due to domestic violence.
Fani-Kayode married Chikwendu in 2014. They welcomed a son in 2016 and a set of triplet in 2018.
The blogger claimed the triplet sons may not have been fathered by Fani-Kayode as they were conceived through IVF and Chikwendu had demanded a DNA test, PUNCH reports on Thursday.
The ex-minister wrote the letter dated September 16 through his lawyer Adeola Adedipe.
Fani-Kayode denied retrieving the car he bought for his estranged wife and that he had left her broke.
“Our client is aggrieved and has instructed us to draw your attention to these libelous breaches of his person and family. By this publication, our client has received denigrating phone calls and messages across the globe by virtue of which he now sufferers immeasurable loss of goodwill,” part of the letter read.
“However, he is inclined to draw a curtain over the wild and spurious claims if you retract the allegations on the same platform they were published and consequently apologise to him in two other national dailies.
“You are also advised to enter into negotiations with us for the sum of two billion naira only being a token amount for penitence. Please bear in mind that you have 14 days from receipt of this letter to comply with the highlighted mitigating measures, the failure of which will leave our client with no preferred alternative than to seek redress in court.”
A family source told Premium Times on Wednesday that the separation was necessitated due to a health challenge which Chikwendu has been trying to manage since they became a couple.
Chikwendu underwent a surgical operation for an undisclosed ailment in July. The couple were still together at the time.
The source further said, among other reasons, that the former minister and Chikwendu had misunderstandings over ‘‘unapproved outings.’’
Chikwendu’s uncle Okey Onyemachi told the online newspaper that there was no case of domestic violence, aslo debunking rumour that Fani-Kayode isn’t the father of the boys.
“I never witnessed any domestic violence incident but I am aware that they are separated and are not staying together as we speak, but reports of domestic violence are very funny and malicious.
“I am unhappy about the reports and my major concern is the children and why people are cooking up fake stories. The allegations that the kids aren’t chief’s is a big lie and unthinkable. Precious is my niece and I can confirm that all these stories are false,” he said.
Fani-Kayode has been married four times. His first marriage was to Saratu Atta in 1987 but they were divorced by 1990.
The second marriage was to Yemisi Adeniji in 1991 and they were divorced by 1995. The third marriage was to Regina-Hanson Amonoo.
