A former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court to end his marriage to Diezani and to request that she stop using his last name. He wants the court to order the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to revert to her maiden name, Agama. This request is part of Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage, which is a legal declaration that a marital union has ended.
Madueke argues that Diezani’s ongoing use of his name, despite their marriage being legally over, is damaging to his reputation. He believes it could lead to unintended consequences, such as mistaken liability, especially given the corruption allegations against her. Madueke is a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states and married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.
Madueke notes that Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021. She cited an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage and sought to end their union formally. Madueke did not oppose the suit, and the court dissolved the marriage. Despite this, Diezani continues to use his surname, even though their marital union has been formally terminated.
He stated, “On the 13th day of April 2022, judgment 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 directed his legal representatives to serve Diezani a formal request on December 14, 2023, demanding that she cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name, Agama. However, despite this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond 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 and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between the parties though 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 seeks an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage. He believes this action is necessary to protect his image, personality, and reputation from any further harm. The court’s intervention is crucial in ensuring that Diezani reverts to her maiden name and stops using Madueke’s surname. This legal battle highlights the complexities of name usage after a marriage has ended, especially when one party is involved in high-profile legal issues.
