Stop Ex-Minister Diezani from Using My Madueke Name, Estranged Husband Begs Court.

Admiral Alison Madueke has petitioned the Lagos State High Court for a legal declaration terminating his marriage to Diezani and requesting that she stop using his surname.

He is requesting that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources be ordered to return to her maiden name, Agama.

This was stated in Madueke’s petition for marriage jactitation (the declaration that a marital union has ended).

The ex-chief of Naval Staff claims that Diezani’s continued use of his name even though their marriage is legally over is damaging to his reputation and may result in unintended consequences, such as mistaken liability, especially given the corruption allegations against her.

Madueke previously served as military governor of Anambra and Imo states. He married Diezani on June 30, 1999, by the Marriage Act.

The petitioner, Madueke, stated that Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage and seeking to end their marriage formally.

He stated that he did not oppose the suit, which resulted in the marriage being dissolved by the court, but Diezani continues to use his surname despite the formal termination of their marriage.

He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya delivered judgment in Suit No. NSD/MG345/2021, dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent because the marriage has irretrievably broken down.

“The dissolution of marriage has now become absolute through 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 the petitioner’s justification or consent.

“For more than two years, the respondent has continued to use the petitioner’s name, much to his embarrassment.

Madueke stated that he instructed his legal representatives to serve Diezani with a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she stop using his surname and return to her maiden name, Agama.

Despite this legal notice, Diezani has yet to respond and continues to use his name.

The petition continued, “The respondent has continued to present herself as the petitioner’s wife even after the marriage has been dissolved.”

“The respondent is facing criminal trials in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The case number in Nigeria is FUC/ABI/CR/208/2010.

“The respondent is facing public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, both of which are currently being tried.”

“The persistent portrayal of the respondent as the petitioner’s spouse causes embarrassment creates a misleading impression, and tarnishes the petitioner’s reputation, integrity, and public image.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and surname falsely suggests to the public that the parties’ relationship has not ended, even though it has been legally terminated.

“The respondent’s continued use of the petitioner’s first and family names puts the petitioner at significant legal and financial risk.

“The petitioner seeks the intervention of this Honourable Court to prevent the respondent from further using his first and surname, thereby protecting his image, personality, and reputation.

Madueke sought a perpetual injunction prohibiting Diezani from using his name after their marriage was dissolved.