Nigeria’s Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has married Queen Zaynab Otiti Obanor, a former queen and humanitarian whose previous high-profile marriages have kept her in the public spotlight.
The marriage, which members of the SGF’s family confirmed, reportedly took place quietly and has, according to sources close to the couple, been in effect for over a year.
The development only recently became public following congratulatory messages shared online by relatives and associates.
Queen Zaynab, who now bears the name Zaynab Ngohemba-George Akume Dajoh, was formally welcomed into the Dajoh family in Benue State. Neither the SGF nor his official spokesperson has issued a detailed public statement on the union.
The marriage has, however, reignited public interest in Queen Zaynab’s past relationships with prominent figures in Nigeria and abroad. She was previously married to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in March 2016. The royal union, which attracted global attention, ended in divorce in August 2017 after about 17 months.
Before her marriage to the Ooni, Queen Zaynab was reportedly married to Saminu Turaki, a former governor of Jigawa State. In later years, she was also linked to a wealthy Arab prince or businessman, a relationship widely reported to have produced a child during her stay in the Middle East.
With her marriage to Senator Akume, Queen Zaynab enters another influential household, this time within Nigeria’s political elite. The development has continued to generate mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians focusing on her personal history, while others have called for respect for the couple’s privacy.