In a dramatic legal move, former Chief of Naval Staff of Nigeria Admiral Alison Madueke has petitioned the Lagos State High Court to officially terminate his marriage to Diezani and to compel her to stop using his last name.
Madueke’s petition seeks a court declaration to end his marital ties with the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani, and demands that she revert to her maiden name, Agama.
Madueke argues that despite the legal dissolution of their marriage, Diezani’s continued use of his surname is damaging his reputation, especially given her ongoing legal battles over corruption allegations. “The persistent portrayal of the respondent as my spouse, despite our legally terminated marriage, is creating embarrassment and tarnishing my public image,” Madueke stated in the petition.
The couple, who married on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act, had their union legally dissolved on April 13, 2022, by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya at the Nassarawa State High Court. Madueke highlights that Diezani’s refusal to stop using his name, despite the finalization of their divorce, has led to confusion and potential legal and financial implications for him.
“The respondent continues to use my first name and surname without any justification or consent,” he asserted. Madueke added that he had formally requested Diezani to cease using his surname in December 2023, but she has not complied.
Diezani, who has held various prominent positions, including Minister of Transportation and Minister of Mines and Steel Development, faces corruption charges in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom. These charges relate to her tenure as Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015, during which she allegedly embezzled $2.5 billion.
Madueke’s petition emphasizes that Diezani’s use of his surname falsely implies an ongoing relationship and could lead to mistaken liability, given her legal issues. He seeks a perpetual injunction to prevent Diezani from using his name and to mandate that she announces her reversion to her maiden name in both Nigerian and UK national newspapers.
“The continued use of my names poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to me,” Madueke concluded, seeking court intervention to protect his reputation and public image.
