Helen Prest-Ajayi, a former Miss Nigeria, has been awarded 50% of her late husband, Dr Tosin Ajayi’s net assets, according to a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Miss Tomisin Ajayi and Mrs Helen Prest-Ajayi, as the first and second applicants in a suit filed through their counsel, Mr Abiodun Owonikoko, received the judgement on Tuesday (SAN).
The First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Limited, the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, Mrs Oluwayemisi Ajayi, and Mr Patrick Abak, a lawyer, are the first to fourth respondents in the claim.
The late Dr Tosin Ajayi owned First Foundation Medical Engineering Company Limited.
Following the respondents’ inability to refute the applicants’ 13 relief requests, the judge granted them.
They include that Prest-Ajayi is “entitled to 50 per cent (or so much as the court may sanction upon audit and valuation) constituting the net assets of the firm, after satisfying all just taxes and debts as family and investment partner of Dr Tosin Ajayi from 1996 till 26 April, 2020 to the exclusion of Mrs Oluwayemisi Ajayi, among others.
Justice Ringim also held, “Despite the service of processes filed on the respondents and affidavits of service duly filed in court, the respondents failed to use the opportunity afforded to them by law to controvert the averment of the plaintiff in the affidavits.
“However, it is a settled law that evidence not controverted is deemed admitted. All the reliefs sought in this application are hereby granted as prayed.”
Dr. Ajayi was a well-known medical practitioner, businessman, and philanthropist before his death on April 26, 2020, according to the application.
He was married to Oluwayemisi and they had children, although they had been divorced for 35 years when he died.
During their separation, he married Helen Prest-Ajayi, a former Miss Nigeria, and they had a child, who stayed with Dr. Prest-Ajayi until his death.