Retired Rear Admiral Alison Madueke has petitioned the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere to prevent his former wife and ex-Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, from continuing to use his surname.
In his petition for jactitation of marriage (declaring the end of a marital union), the former Chief of Naval Staff requested the court to compel Diezani to revert to her maiden surname, Agama.
He argued that her ongoing use of his surname amidst corruption allegations posed potential harm to his reputation and could lead to mistaken liabilities, especially since they are no longer legally married.
Rear Admiral Madueke, a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states, stated that he married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act. He mentioned that their marriage garnered public recognition, producing one child.
The petitioner noted that Diezani began using the name “Alison Madueke” during her tenure as a minister in the Jonathan Administration from 2010 to 2015.
Through his legal representatives Chidi Ilogu (SAN), Dr. Nasiru Tijani, and Adedamola Kikiowo, Rear Admiral Madueke stated that he and Diezani ceased cohabiting in May 2015 when she resigned as minister and relocated to the United Kingdom, maintaining separate residences since then.
He disclosed that Diezani initiated divorce proceedings in November 2021 at the High Court of Nassarawa State in Mararaba Gurku, citing irretrievable breakdown of their marriage. He indicated that he did not contest the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of their marriage.
Rear Admiral Madueke told the court that Diezani has continued to use his name despite the marriage ending.
He stated: “On April 13, 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.
“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.”The petitioner stated that he instructed his lawyers to write Diezani to stop using his names and to revert to her pre-marital name (Agama), which they did on December 14, 2023, but she has neither responded nor ceased using the names.
“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 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.
“Given the ongoing public allegations and trials concerning the respondent’s alleged misconduct, this association with the petitioner’s name could lead to mistaken liability or even implicate the petitioner in these legal issues.
“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.”
Rear Admiral Madueke sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.
He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further asserting by words or conducts the existence of marriage between them.
The petitioner prayed for an order directing the respondent to adopt and revert to her pre-marital surname (Agama) and to publish in a national newspaper in both Nigeria and the UK that she has stopped using Alison Madueke.