Admiral Allison Amaechina Madueke has submitted a request to the High Court of Lagos State to legally end his marriage to Diezani Alison-Madueke and to cease her use of his first and last name.
In his petition for jactitation of marriage, he has asked the court to instruct Diezani to go back to using her maiden name, Agama.
The former Chief of Naval Staff believes that Diezani’s continued use of his name post their legal separation could harm his reputation and lead to unintended consequences, especially considering the corruption accusations against her.
Madueke, a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states, married Diezani on June 30, 1999. Despite Diezani initiating divorce proceedings in November 2021, Madueke did not contest the case, resulting in the court dissolving the marriage.
However, Diezani persists in using his surname even after their marital union was formally terminated.
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.”
Madueke disclosed that he instructed his legal team to officially request Diezani on December 14, 2023, to stop using his surname and return to her maiden name, Agama. Despite receiving this formal notice, Diezani has not replied and persists in using his name.
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 requested a perpetual injunction to prevent Diezani from using his name after their marriage ended. He also asked for an injunction to stop Diezani from claiming they are still married through words or actions.
Madueke is seeking a court order for Diezani to go back to using her maiden name and to publicly declare in a national newspaper in Nigeria and the UK that she is no longer using his surname.
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