Adenike Ajayi, wife of the late founder of First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Limited, Dr Tosin Ajayi, has said she never confronted her husband about his relationship with former Miss Nigeria Helen Prest.
She stated this on Thursday while being cross-examined by Abiodun Owonokoko in the ongoing suit challenging the management of ajayi’s estate.
Ajayi died in Lagos on April 26, 2020.
The claimants are Mrs. Ajayi and her children, Tomi Deru, Omolade Soetan, Mayowa Okeowo, and Bisola Ajayi.
In the suit filed against Prest and her daughter Tomisin Ajayi, they prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the first defendant from interfering in the management of the deceased’s estate.
When told that the late Ajayi had been living with Prest since 1997 till his death in 2020, and had openly recognised her as his wife, both at home and abroad, the witness said, “My husband had many of them as his side-chicks.”
Owonokoko tendered many books written by the defendants including newspapers, magazine publications where she was referred to as Mrs Ajayi.
The witness was also confronted with Prest’s 50th birthday photographs which were lavishly spread in front pages of Ovation Magazine, Genevieve Magazine published in October 2007, and ThisDay Style Magazine, surrounded by the deceased and prominent Nigerians and her name was mentioned as Mrs. Helen Prest-Ajayi.
She was, therefore, asked if she had at any time challenged the defendant to stop using her husband’s name.
In response, she said it was a party and anybody could be present and Ajayi, being a common name, anybody could bear it.
Owonokoko further if she was aware there was a notice filed against tampering with Ajayi’s property before she went ahead to sell some of them.
She said she was in the process of preparing letter of administration, when her lawyer found out that Prest had applied for letter of administration.
Asked if she was aware that the Federal High Court had restrained her from touching the assets of First Foundation Medical Engineering, because the order of injunction was still pending, she said she was not aware.
Justice Oluwatoyin Odusanya fixed November 11 and 12, 2024, for further hearing.
