Akume quietly marries Ooni’s ex-queen Zaynab

Former Benue State Governor and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has reportedly married Zaynab Ngohemba-George, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The union became public on Friday, December 26, 2025, following a celebratory Facebook post by Abraham Double-D Dajoh, a member of the Akume Dajoh family from Mbakor, Benue State.

In the post, the family expressed delight at the marriage, stating, “We, the entire Dajoh family, happily join our daddy, uncle and brother, His Excellency, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume Jugu Dajoh, in welcoming his new and uncommon wife, Queen Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, into the Dajoh family.”

The statement also extended a warm cultural welcome to the bride, hailing her arrival in Benue State, described as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” and Mbakor, regarded as the seat of Tiv leadership. The family thanked Akume’s supporters for their goodwill and urged continued loyalty, while also wishing Nigerians a merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Photographs shared alongside the post, showing Queen Zaynab with members of the family, quickly went viral and sparked widespread reactions on social media.

When contacted, Akume’s spokesman, Yomi Odunuga, confirmed the marriage, clarifying that the union is more than a year old and not a recent development, contrary to some reports.

Zaynab was previously married to the Ooni of Ife in a widely publicised traditional ceremony held in Benin City on March 12, 2016, followed by a reception in Ile-Ife the next day. The marriage lasted 17 months and ended in August 2017. She later confirmed the separation publicly, reverted to her maiden name, and relocated to Doha, Qatar, where she focused on philanthropic activities.

In subsequent years, reports linked her to a wealthy Arab prince, with whom she reportedly welcomed a daughter in 2022. (Punch)