Billionaire’s denial of 14-year marriage is bogus, claims wife
A BILLIONAIRE London property developer has claimed that he was never married to his “wife” of 14 years in an attempt to protect his £1.1billion fortune, the High Court heard.
Asif Aziz, 50, said his marriage to Tagilde Aziz was based on a fake certificate obtained so a child they had adopted could obtain a passport.
The couple were divorced in November last year, but Mr Aziz wanted the decision to be reversed on the grounds that they were never married.
Richard Harrison QC, for Mr Aziz, told Mr Justice Moor that Mrs Aziz claimed a Muslim ceremony of marriage had taken place in Malawi in 2002. But no ceremony ever took place, he said, and a “certificate of convenience” was required to get a UK passport for a child they had informally adopted.
Deborah Bangay QC, for Mrs Aziz, said: “Mrs Aziz is entitled to – and does – rely on the presumption of marriage and the facts that the parties presented to the world for the totality of the period between 2002 and their separation. It is for Mr Aziz credibly to explain ... why he presented to the world for a period of two decades that he and Mrs Aziz were married.”
She said an “unopposed” decree nisi had been pronounced and added: “The court need look no further than Mr Aziz’s obvious determination to achieve an overwhelming victory over Mrs Aziz at any cost.”
Mrs Aziz had tried to progress claims for a “fair share out of total resources of £1.1billion”, Mr Justice Moor was told.
Her lawyers said Mr Aziz had also argued that he had “no capital” and was a “man of straw”.
Mr Aziz, who was born in Malawi, is CEO of property group Criterion Capital, which according to its website owns large areas of the West End.
The hearing continues.