ABUJA, Nigeria — A Lebanese woman has accused Nigerian oil tycoon Aliyu Abubakar of paying 1 million Dollars to her ex-husband in exchange for her and her four children, then abandoning the family years later.
Suhair Aliyu said she was forced into marriage at age 15 to Ali Chawki El Cheikh, a Lebanese man who later brought her to Nigeria. She claimed her husband introduced her to Abubakar, who soon began giving her gifts and allegedly orchestrated her divorce.
According to Suhair, Abubakar presented her with court documents showing she had been divorced without her knowledge. He then proposed marriage and promised to care for her children, later changing their surnames to his.
She said she married Abubakar in 2014 and gave birth to twins, but the relationship deteriorated. The businessman allegedly told her he could no longer support children who were not biologically his.
Suhair claimed she was left stranded, unable to return to Lebanon because her children’s passports listed Abubakar as their father. She said she had no legal means to travel without his consent.
In a disturbing allegation, Suhair accused Abubakar of having an affair with her daughter, Zainab, one of the children he had adopted. She said the betrayal compounded years of emotional and financial neglect.
The woman said she recently received an eviction notice from Abubakar’s company, ordering her to vacate their apartment in Abuja’s upscale Maitama district by December 10. The letter stated the company would not renew the lease.
Abubakar denied the allegations, saying he did not pay for Suhair’s divorce and had supported her financially, including sending money monthly. He acknowledged their relationship and the twins but rejected claims of abandonment.
He said the children’s passports bore his name because Suhair requested it, and he considered them his own. He added that the eviction was prompted by her alleged disrespect and refusal to acknowledge him.
Abubakar has previously faced scrutiny over financial dealings, including investigations into the Malabu oil scandal. He was discharged by a Nigerian court in 2024 after prosecutors failed to establish a case.
