It was a gathering that quickly drew national attention as senior political figures converged on Benue State for a wedding tied to one of Nigeria’s most powerful offices.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, hosted an elaborate wedding ceremony for his son, Samuel Aondoakura, in the state, weeks after publicly introducing his new wife, Zaynab Ngohemba, to his family.
The high-profile event attracted dignitaries from across the country, with Vice President Kashim Shettima attending on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Shettima’s presence at the ceremony was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by his Spokesman and Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.
“Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has arrived in Benue State to grace the wedding reception of the son of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume,” Nkwocha stated.
According to the statement, the ceremony united Samuel Aondoakura Akume with Deborah Ershima, the daughter of renowned engineer Msula Atoga.
“The solemnisation of the holy matrimony is between Samuel Aondoakura and Deborah Ershima,” the statement noted, adding that the Vice President was received by Senator Akume and Benue State Governor, Dr Hyacinth Alia, alongside other top state officials.
The wedding came amid renewed public interest in Akume’s personal life following reports of his recent marriage to Zaynab Ngohemba. The union, said to have taken place discreetly last year, only became public in recent weeks.
The marriage was announced through a congratulatory Facebook post by Abraham Dajoh, a member of the Akume Dajoh family from Mbakor in Benue State.
“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 post read.
Zaynab was previously married to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in a widely publicised traditional wedding held in Benin City on March 12, 2016, followed by a reception in Ile-Ife. The marriage ended after 17 months in August 2017.
Following the separation, she confirmed the split publicly, reverted to her maiden name, and later relocated to Doha, Qatar, where she became involved in philanthropic activities.
In subsequent years, media reports linked her to a wealthy Arab prince, with whom she was reported to have had a daughter in 2022.
Akume and Zaynab were recently seen together at the SGF’s 72nd birthday celebration, further fuelling public interest in the marriage as attention remained on the influential political family in Benue State.
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