Admiral Alison Madueke, a former Chief of Naval Staff, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court seeking to legally end his marriage to Diezani Madueke and requesting that she cease using his surname. The petition, filed under the claim of jactitation of marriage (declaration that a marital union has ended), asserts that Diezani’s continued use of his surname despite their marriage being legally dissolved is damaging to his reputation and potentially exposes him to unintended liabilities, especially in light of her corruption allegations.
Madueke, who married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act, cites that their marriage was formally dissolved by the Nassarawa State High Court in April 2022 due to irreconcilable differences. Despite this legal dissolution, Diezani has allegedly persisted in using Madueke’s first name and surname, causing embarrassment and misleading the public into believing their relationship continues. He emphasizes that he has already requested Diezani to cease using his surname through formal legal channels in December 2023, but she has not complied.
The petition underscores that Diezani’s actions not only tarnish Madueke’s reputation but also pose potential legal and financial risks to him. It seeks a court order for Diezani to revert to her maiden name, Agama, and to publicly announce in national newspapers in Nigeria and the UK that she has stopped using Madueke’s surname.
Diezani Madueke, a prominent figure in Nigerian politics and the first female President of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has faced serious corruption allegations related to her tenure as Minister of Petroleum Resources from 2010 to 2015. These allegations have led to legal proceedings against her in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
