Rear Admiral Alison Madueke, the former husband of Diezani, has petitioned the Lagos State High Court to stop his ex-wife from using his name, citing embarrassment and potential legal harm due to her ongoing corruption trials.
“I am embarrassed by her continued use of my name, especially given the ongoing public allegations and trials concerning her alleged misconduct,” Rear Admiral Madueke stated in the petition. “This association with my name could lead to mistaken liability or even implicate me in these legal issues.”
The couple’s marriage was dissolved in April 2022, but Diezani has continued to use Madueke’s name, according to the petition. Madueke is seeking an order to restrain Diezani from further using his name and to revert to her maiden surname, Agama.
“The respondent’s continued use of my first and surname falsely suggests to the public a continuing relationship between us, which has since legally ended,” Madueke argued.
The court has not yet ruled on the petition. Diezani’s response to the petition is awaited.
According to the petitioner, the respondent started using the name “Alison Madueke” when she became a minister under the Jonathan Administration and served between 2010 and 2015.
Rear Admiral Madueke, in the petition filed through his lawyers L. Chidi Ilogu (SAN), Dr Nasiru Tijani and Adedamola Kikiowo, stated that his cohabitation with Diezani ceased in May 2015 when she left her position as minister and relocated to the United Kingdom, adding that they have lived apart since then.
The petitioner stated that Diezani sued for dissolution of marriage in November 2021 at the High Court of Nassarawa State sitting in Mararaba Gurku, citing an irretrievable breakdown of the union.
He said he did not contest the suit, following which the court ended the marriage.
Rear Admiral Madueke told the court that Diezani has continued to use his name despite the marriage ending.
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.
“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.”
“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.
“Given the ongoing public allegations and trials concerning the respondent’s alleged misconduct, this association with the petitioner’s name could lead to mistaken liability or even implicate the petitioner in these legal issues.
“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.”
Rear Admiral Madueke sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.
He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the respondent from further asserting by words or conducts the existence of marriage between them.
The petitioner prayed for an order directing the respondent to adopt and revert to her pre-marital surname (Agama) and to publish in a national newspaper in both Nigeria and the UK that she has stopped using Alison Madueke.