By Publisher
Madueke wants court to stop Diezani from bearing his name
Alison Madueke, a retired Rear Admiral, has asked the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, to stop his former wife, Diezani, from bearing his name.
In a petition for declaration that his marital union to the ex-minister had ended, the former Chief of Naval Staff prayed the court to order Diezani to revert to her maiden surname of Agama, arguing that her continued use of his name amid corruption allegations was harmful to him and could implicate him or result in mistaken liability, especially since they were no longer legally married.
According to Madueke, he got married to Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act, adding that Diezani started gaining recognition in social and political circles because of the marriage, which was blessed with a child.
He stated that his former wife started using the name “Alison Madueke” when she became a minister under the Jonathan Administration between 2010 and 2015, adding that they stopped cohabiting in May 2015, when she left her position as minister and relocated to Britain.
The petitioner, who was represented by his counsels, Chidi Ilogu (SAN), Dr Nasiru Tijani, and Adedamola Kikiowo, stated that Diezani sued for dissolution of marriage in November 2021 at the High Court of Nassarawa State sitting in Mar]araba Gurku, saying he did not contest the suit, resulting in the dissolution of the marriage.
The former military governor of Imo State averred that Diezani has continued to use his name despite that they had ceased to be married.
“On April 13, 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,” Madueke said.
“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 petitioner stated that he instructed his lawyers to write Diezani to stop using his name and to revert to her pre-marital name (Agama), which they did on December 14, 2023, but she has neither responded nor ceased using the names.
“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,” he stated, adding that this poses a significant risk of legal and financial harm to him.
He, therefore, sought an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Diezani from further using his names following the dissolution of their marriage and thereby protecting his image, personality, and reputation.
