Ex-Naval chief files petition to end marriage, reclaim last name from Diezani

Former Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Alison Madueke, has filed a petition in the Lagos State High Court seekingalegal declaration to end his marriage to Diezani and requesting that she stop using his last name.

He is asking the court to order
the former Minister of Petroleum Resources to revert to her maiden name,
Agama.

Maduekes petition for jactitation of marriage (a declaration that a marital
union has ended) states that Diezani’s ongoing use of his name despite their
marriage being legally over is damaging to his reputation and could lead to
unintended consequernces, including mistaken liability, particuarly given the
corruption allegations against her.

The former military governor of Anambra and Imo states married Diezani on June 30, 1999, under the Marriage Act.

The petition notes that Diezani had
previously filed for divorce at the Nasarawa State High Court in Mararaba
Gurku in November 2021, citing an irreconcilable breakdown of their marriage.

Madueke did not oppose the suit, resulting in the court’s dissolution of the
marriage.

Despite this, Diezani persists inusing his surname.

“On the 13th day of April 2022, judgement 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.

The said dissolution of marriage has now become absolute by the operation of law,” Madueke stated.

“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.”

Madueke revealed that 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.

However, despite this legal notice, Diezani has failed to respond and continues to use his name.