Former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court, urging the court to compel his estranged wife, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to stop using his last name.
The petition, seeking a declaration of the end of their marriage, requests that Diezani revert to her maiden name, Agama.
Admiral Madueke argues that Diezani’s continued use of his name, despite their legally dissolved marriage, tarnishes his reputation and could lead to mistaken liabilities due to the corruption allegations against her.
The couple married on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act, but their union was officially dissolved on April 13, 2022, by Hon. Justice A.A. Ozegya of the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku.
Despite the court’s dissolution of their marriage, Diezani continues to use the name Alison-Madueke, which, according to Admiral Madueke, has caused him embarrassment and potential harm. He noted that Diezani’s legal and public issues, including ongoing criminal trials in Nigeria and the UK, further complicate the matter.
Admiral Madueke revealed that he formally requested Diezani to cease using his surname in December 2023, but she has yet to comply.
He seeks a perpetual injunction to prevent her from using his names and portraying herself as his spouse. Additionally, he asks the court to mandate that Diezani announce her name change in national newspapers in both Nigeria and the UK.
Diezani Alison-Madueke, who has held several government positions and was the first female President of OPEC, faces accusations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of embezzling $2.5 billion during her tenure from 2010 to 2015. These allegations have led to her arrest and ongoing legal proceedings.
