Helen Prest speaks out after court rules on Tosin Ajayi's widow

Miss Nigeria and lawyer Helen Prest has spoken out after a Lagos State High Court recognized Adenike Ajayi as the only lawful widow of the late Tosin Ajayi, who started First Foundation Hospital.

In a video on her Instagram page on Tuesday, Ms Prest said she would keep defending what she called her late husband’s legacy. She stated she could not stay silent while people tarnished his reputation, their life together, and their children's names.

The ruling, given by Justice Oluwayoyin Odusanya of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja on 17 June, dismissed Ms Prest’s claim that she was also legally married to the late doctor. The court granted all the requests made by Mrs Ajayi and her children.

Mr Ajayi, a well-known medical doctor and founder of First Foundation Hospital, passed away on 26 April 2020. His death caused a long legal fight after Ms Prest claimed he married her under Kalabari customary law, while Mrs Ajayi insisted she was his only lawful wife.

Helen Prest’s reaction

After the ruling, Ms Prest said the situation required strength. She felt it was her duty to protect the legacy they built together.

Ms Prest shared: "If you were in my shoes, you would find strength because the situation calls for it. What’s the alternative? Letting your husband’s legacy be destroyed? Letting your children’s name be tarnished? Letting the life we lived together be undefended? That’s not possible.

"I owe my husband so much. He was a great man, a great father, and a great friend. He was a respected doctor in the Lagos State medical community. Everyone knows this. I cannot stay quiet and let his legacy be ridiculed. That’s not possible."

The reality

Ms Prest mentioned that the late doctor contributed significantly to her life, the community, the medical field, and Lagos State.

She added that she would keep talking about his impact, even if others who gained from his kindness chose to be silent.

"As a woman, if you believe in something true, you must step up for it. No matter what others say, you know the truth. We all lived it. We are all here. We all know the truth. It’s not hidden. This is our society’s story, but we don’t have to follow that path. Not everything is about money.

"I understand why people say, 'You’re so strong,' because I know what comes after defending yourself. People pay writers to attack. You can always tell who is telling the truth, because the side that attacks with bitterness and anger is often hiding something," said Ms Prest, who is also a lawyer.

Lawsuit

She added that someone who knows the truth does not need to attack others but stays calm.

Ms Prest said, "There’s no need to pay people to ruin someone’s reputation. The truth will eventually come out, and it is coming out slowly. I’ve said from the start that I’ve never sued anyone.

"I’ve always defended myself because there’s nothing to sue for. I said from the beginning that there’s enough for everyone, so there’s no need for conflict. The main point I want to make today is that you shouldn’t tell women they’re strong, as if you could never be that strong."