Admiral Alison Madueke, a former Chief of Naval Staff, has filed a plea in the Lagos State High Court, requesting a legal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani and that she stop using his last name.
He is seeking the court to order the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to return to her maiden name, Agama. This was stated in Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage (a declaration that a marriage has terminated).
The former Chief of Naval Staff claims that Diezani’s continued use of his name despite the fact that their marriage is officially terminated is detrimental to his reputation and may result in unforeseen repercussions, such as mistaken culpability, especially considering the corruption charges against her.
Madueke, a former military governor of Anambra and Imo States, married Diezani on June 30, 1999, according to the Marriage Act.
The petitioner, Madueke, stated that Diezani had earlier filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown in their marriage and seeking to end their union formally.
He stated that he did not contest the suit, which resulted in the court dissolving the marriage, but Diezani continues to use his surname despite the formal termination of their marriage.
He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, judgement was delivered in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021 by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent on the ground that the marriage has broken down irretrievably.
“The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law.
“Even though the marriage has been dissolved and is now legally finalised, the respondent continues to use the petitioner’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) as her own without any justification or consent from the petitioner.
“It is now more than two years that the respondent continues to use the name of the petitioner to his embarrassment.”
Madueke revealed that he authorised his legal agents to issue Diezani with a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she stop using his surname and return to her maiden name, Agama.
However, despite this legal notification, Diezani has not responded and continues to use his name.
The petition further read, “The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved.
“The respondent is undergoing criminal trials in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The charge in Nigeria is Suit No. FUC/ABI/CR/208/2010.
“The respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both.
“The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the spouse of the petitioner is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression, and tarnishing the reputation, integrity, and public image of the petitioner.
“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first name and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between the parties, though the same has since legally ended.
“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and family names poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to the petitioner.
“The petitioner seeks the intervention of this Honourable Court to prevent the respondent from further using his first name and surname, thereby safeguarding his image, personality, and reputation.”
Madueke sought a perpetual injunction prohibiting Diezani from using his name after their marriage ended.
He also sought a perpetual injunction prohibiting the respondent from further establishing the existence of their marriage through words or conduct.
He is seeking a court order for Diezani to return to her maiden name and publicly disclose in a national newspaper in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom that she has stopped using his surname.
Diezani has held numerous key posts in Nigeria’s government, including Minister of Transportation, Mines, and Steel Development and Minister of Petroleum Resources.
In November 2014, she was elected as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ first female president.
Diezani was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of embezzling $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The corruption allegations have led to her arrest and legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
