Alison Madueke, a former chief of naval staff, has petitioned the Lagos State High Court to officially end his marriage to Diezani Madueke and compel her to stop using his last name.
He has asked the court to order the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to revert to her maiden name, Agama.
Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage argued that Diezani’s continued use of his name, despite their marriage being legally dissolved, damages his reputation and could lead to unintended consequences, including mistaken liability due to the corruption allegations against her.
Madueke, who has also served as the military governor of Anambra and Imo states, married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.
Diezani previously filed for divorce in the Nassarawa State High Court in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage.
Madueke did not oppose the suit, and the court dissolved the marriage. However, Diezani has continued using his surname despite their union’s formal termination.
“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 stated.
Despite the legal finalisation of their divorce, Diezani continues to use Madueke’s first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) without his consent.
Madueke expressed his embarrassment over this continued use, noting that he directed his legal representatives to serve Diezani a formal request on December 14, 2023, to cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name. Despite this notice, Diezani has not responded and continues to use his name.
Madueke’s petition further highlighted the ongoing criminal trials Diezani faces in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, stating that her continued use of his name misleads the public and tarnishes his reputation.
Diezani has held several positions in Nigeria, including minister of transportation, minister of mines and steel development, and minister of petroleum resources.
She was also the first female president of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, elected in November 2014.
However, she faces serious corruption allegations, including embezzling $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, leading to her arrest and ongoing legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the UK.
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