Husband to keep wealth secret

A JUDGE has refused a wife’s bid to force her diplomat husband to disclose his financial resources as she prepares for the biggest divorce case ever heard in Scotland.

Aduke Fernandez wants a share of assets held by her husband Chief Oladeinde Fernandez - who is also known as Ambassador Antonio Deinde Fernandez - which she believes are worth 600 million.

But the chief maintains they are not validly married and so she is not entitled to financial provision on divorce.

Mrs Fernandez, of Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, has lodged papers at the Court of Session.

An address for her husband, a Yoruba chief aged 66 who served as the Central African Republic’s ambassador to the United Nations, was given as care of the Ritz Hotel in Paris.

Mrs Fernandez’ counsel Charles Macnair QC told a preliminary hearing that: "Expenditure was, by any stretch of the imagination, lavish." Mr Macnair asked the court to grant an order providing details of the diplomat’s resources within seven days.

His motion was opposed as premature and because it was not thought viable for the chief to comply within that period of time.

One reason for opposition was stated as: "The parties are not validly married and as such the pursuer [Mrs Fernandez] is not entitled to financial provision on divorce."

Lord Brodie said he was not satisfied that there was a basis at this stage for the court granting the order and refused the application. The judge pointed out proceedings were at an early stage.

He added: "It has been explained to me by both parties the defender is a man of considerable means, whose financial interests may not be straightforward."

He said that it seemed to be impractical to require him to fulfil an order within seven days.

The judge also noted that there was an issue between as to whether they were married and said: "It is not accepted that these parties are married and that is an additional factor which I think it is appropriate to have regard to at this stage."

The African diplomat previously came to notice when he successfully applied for permission to build an orangery in the back garden of the house in Drumsheugh Gardens in the West End area of Edinburgh.