Admiral Alison Amaechina Madueke has filed a petition against his ex-wife, Diezani Alison Madueke at the Lagos State High Court.
Madueke pleaded with the court for an injunction restraining Diezani from using his first name (Alison) and surname (Madueke) following the dissolution of their marriage.
In his petition, Madueke seeked a legal declaration known as “jactitation of marriage,” urging the court to direct the former Minister of Petroleum to revert to her maiden name, Agama.
The ex-chief of Naval Staff argues that her continued use of his name after their marriage was legally dissolved damages his reputation and could lead to unintended consequences, especially given the corruption allegations against her.
Madueke, a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states, married Diezani on June 30, 1999.
Although Diezani filed for divorce in November 2021, citing irreconcilable differences, and the marriage was dissolved by court judgment in April 2022, Madueke claims she persists in using his surname without justification or consent.
Despite his legal notice to cease, Madueke asserts that Diezani has not stopped using his surname.
He stated, “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 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 this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond and continues to use his name.
Madueke emphasizes that her actions falsely suggest an ongoing relationship and create embarrassment, misrepresentation, and harm to his reputation.
The petition further read, “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.”
Madueke seeks the court’s intervention to prevent Diezani from using his names, requesting perpetual injunctions against such use and demanding that she publicly announce in Nigerian and UK newspapers that she has stopped using his surname.
KanyiDaily recalls that Alison Madueke revealed that he told Diezani Alison-Madueke, not to focus on money but maintain the good name of the family.
