Admiral Alison Madueke has approached the Lagos State High Court with a petition to officially end his marriage to Diezani and compel her to stop using his surname.
According to The PUNCH, he seeks a legal declaration confirming the termination of their marital union and requests that the former Minister of Petroleum Resources revert to her maiden name, Agama.
Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage argues that Diezani’s continued use of his name post-divorce is damaging his reputation and could result in mistaken liability, especially in light of the corruption allegations against her.
As a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states, Madueke married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.
He noted that Diezani had filed for divorce in November 2021 at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku, citing an irretrievable breakdown of their marriage.
Madueke did not contest the suit, leading to the court’s dissolution of the marriage.
“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,” Madueke stated. “The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law.”
Despite the formal termination of their marriage, Diezani continues to use Madueke’s surname, which he claims is causing him embarrassment. On December 14, 2023, Madueke’s legal representatives formally requested that she cease using his surname and revert to her maiden name.
However, Diezani has not responded and continues to use his name.
Madueke’s petition further read, “The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved.”
He emphasized that Diezani is facing criminal trials in both Nigeria and the UK, with ongoing public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct.
“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,” he added.
Madueke is seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent Diezani from using his names and from asserting the existence of their marriage.
He also requests a court order compelling Diezani to revert to her maiden name and publicly announce her name change in national newspapers in both Nigeria and the UK.
Diezani has held significant government positions, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Minister of Petroleum Resources.
She was also the first female President of OPEC, elected in November 2014. However, allegations of embezzling $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 have led to legal proceedings in Nigeria and the UK.
