Tunde Ayeni Rejects Alleged Out-of-Court Settlement Overture From Adaobi Alagwu

Nigerian businessman Dr. Tunde Ayeni has dismissed an alleged out-of-court settlement proposal said to have been initiated through informal channels by lawyer Adaobi Alagwu, insisting that their ongoing dispute must be resolved openly in court.

In a statement on Monday, Ayeni confirmed that Alagwu made what he described as “back-door overtures” aimed at privately resolving the controversy between them. The attempt, he said, was surprising given the intense public scrutiny surrounding the matter and the reputational harm he claims to have suffered.

“I confirm that through back-door channels, Alagwu has indeed made overtures towards settling this matter outside the courtroom,” Ayeni said. “This development was unexpected, considering the significant public attention, embarrassment, and reputational damage it has caused me, my family, and my loved ones.”

Ayeni suggested that Alagwu’s renewed interest in a quiet settlement may be linked to what he called her “alleged pending marriage,” but stressed that such considerations are irrelevant to him. His sole objective, he said, is to publicly reclaim his reputation.

“Despite these attempts, I am resolute in rejecting any private settlement,” he declared. “The allegations have damaged my reputation publicly, and I am committed to seeking full legal redress in the open. Accepting a private arrangement would undermine the seriousness of the accusations.”

Ayeni also cautioned friends and associates against intervening in the matter or raising Alagwu’s name in conversations with him, describing such references as “a personal insult.”

“Adaobi, her mother, or any member of her family are no longer subjects of discussion outside the litigations pending in court,” he said. “No one should act as an intermediary on this matter.”

Ayeni reaffirmed his readiness to testify in open court on 25 November 2025 and 17 February 2026, and said he expects Alagwu to attend the proceedings—unlike what he described as her alleged absence during earlier sessions at the customary court.

He maintained that he has been transparent since the controversy began and is determined to clear his name before a competent court.

“I acknowledge the role I have played in this situation and I am taking steps to move past it,” he said. “Encouraging an out-of-court settlement would only feed the false narrative that I am being influenced to pursue this case because they believe I lack my own convictions. That is absolutely untrue.”

The dispute between Ayeni and Alagwu has drawn wide public interest, with both parties now preparing for the next phase of their legal confrontation..