Admiral Alison Madueke, a former Chief of Naval Staff, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court seeking a legal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, and requesting that she stop using his last name.
Madueke’s petition for jactitation of marriage—a legal declaration that a marital union has ended—argues that Diezani’s ongoing use of his name despite their marriage being legally over is damaging to his reputation and could lead to unintended consequences, including mistaken liability, particularly given the corruption allegations against her.
Madueke, who is also a former military governor of Anambra and Imo states, married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act. Diezani filed for divorce at the Nassarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage. Madueke did not oppose the suit, leading to the court’s dissolution of the marriage.
In his statement, Madueke said, “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.”
Despite this, Diezani continues to use his surname.
Madueke stated, “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 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.
“The respondent has continued to hold out herself as the wife of the petitioner even when the marriage has been dissolved,” Madueke’s petition further read.
“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.”
Madueke expressed concern that Diezani’s continued use of his name is creating embarrassment, a misleading impression, and tarnishing his reputation.
He stated, “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 the 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.”
Madueke is seeking a court order to compel Diezani to revert to her maiden name and to publicly announce in a national newspaper, both in Nigeria and the UK, that she has ceased using his surname.
He also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names or asserting the existence of their marriage.
Diezani Madueke has held several significant positions in the Nigerian government, including Minister of Transportation, Minister of Mines and Steel Development, and Minister of Petroleum Resources. She was also the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), elected in November 2014.
Diezani has been accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of embezzling $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government during her tenure from 2010 to 2015 under President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. These allegations have led to her arrest and legal proceedings in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.