>
Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Former Chief of Naval Staff, Alison Madueke, has filed a petition before the Lagos State High Court, seeking to stop former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani, from using his last name.
Madueke, a former military governor of Anambra and Imo State, married Diezani under the on June 30, 1999.
But Madueke, in his petition for jactitation of marriage (declaration that a marital union has ended), claimed Diezani had filed for divorce at the Nasarawa State High Court in Mararaba Gurku, in November 2021, citing the “irreconcilable breakdown” of their marriage.
He said since May 2015, he haD lived apart from the respondent after she travelled to the United Kingdom.
The former naval chief said he did not object to the divorce, which led to the marriage being formally dissolved by the court on April 13, 2022.
He, however, added that Diezani has continued to go by his last name.
“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,” the petition read.
Madueke said 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.
He said the former minister failed to respond to the legal notice 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.
“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,” it added.
Madueke is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage.