Admiral Alison Madueke has asked the Lagos State High Court to end his marriage to Diezani and to stop her from using his last name, wanting her to go back to her maiden name, Agama.
Madueke said that even though their marriage ended legally, Diezani is still using his name. This, he believes, hurts his reputation because of the corruption charges against her.
Beyond Boders recalls that Madueke and Diezani married on June 30, 1999. Diezani filed for divorce in November 2021, saying their marriage had broken down.
The court ended their marriage on April 13, 2022, but Diezani continues to use Madueke’s last name.
“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,” Madueke stated.
He asked his lawyers to formally request Diezani to stop using his name on December 14, 2023. Despite this, Diezani has not responded and continues to use his name.
The court document 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.
“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.”
Madueke therefore, wants the court to stop Diezani from using his name and to make her announce in newspapers in Nigeria and the UK that she is no longer using his surname.
Diezani has held many high positions in the Nigerian government, including Minister of Petroleum Resources.
She was also the first female President of OPEC in 2014. She is accused of embezzling $2.5 billion from the Nigerian government between 2010 and 2015. These accusations have led to her arrest and legal cases in both Nigeria and the UK.
