Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, has married Queen Zaynab Ngohemba, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

The marriage was announced in a Facebook post by Abraham Double-D Dajoh, who identifies as a member of the Akume family. 

In the post, the family formally welcomed Queen Zaynab into the Dajoh household, describing her as Mr Akume’s new wife.

“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 read.

The family expressed appreciation to supporters of Mr Akume for standing by him and urged them to continue their support. 

The message also conveyed Christmas and New Year goodwill while welcoming the former queen to Benue State, popularly known as the Food Basket of the Nation.

“Welcome to Benue State… Welcome to Mbakor; the seat of leadership of the Tiv nation and welcome to the Dajoh family; the home of your darling husband. Welcome home Queen Zaynab,” the family added.

The union has attracted public attention, largely because of Queen Zaynab’s past marriage to the Ooni of Ife, one of Nigeria’s most prominent traditional rulers, Oba Ogunwusi.

She got married to Mr Ogunwusi on March 12, 2016, in Benin City, Edo State but the marriage crashed in August 2017.

Mr Akume, a seasoned politician from Benue State, served two terms as governor between 1999 and 2007 before representing Benue North-West in the Senate. In 2023, he was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation, placing him at the centre of Nigeria’s federal administration.