Former chief of naval staff (1993-1994), Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (retd) has prayed a Lagos State High Court in Igbosere to stop his ex-wife and former minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke from using his surname.
Madueke had in a jactitation of marriage (declaration that a marital union has ended), contended that her continued use of his name amid corruption allegations was harmful to him and could implicate him or result in mistaken liability, especially considering they were no longer legally married.
In the suit filed through her lawyers, Messrs Chidi Ilogu, Dr Nasiru Tijani and Adedamola Kikiowo, the petitioner prayed the court to order the former minister to revert to her maiden name, Agama.
The plaintiff who, served as the military governor of Anambra State (January 1984 to August 1985), and Imo State (1985 to 1986), said Diezani had previously filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage, seeking to end their union formally.
He said he did not oppose the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of the marriage, yet Diezani persists in using his surname, despite the formal termination of their marital union.
“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,” he said.
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 the legal notice, Diezani failed to respond and continues to use his name.
“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,” the petition further stated.
The plaintiff therefore sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.
