Diezani’s estranged-husband files petition compelling her to stop using his name

The ex-husband of Diezani Alison-Madueke, Rear Admiral Alison Madueke (retd) has filed a suit before the Lagos State High Court for an injunction restraining his ex-wife from using his name and surname.

Alison, in his petition, prayed the court to grant an order directing Diezani to revert to her pre-marital surname, Agama and issue publications in newspapers of national circulation in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom of a notice of her discontinuation of the use of his first name and surname.

The former chief of naval staff stressed that Diezani’s continued use of his name poses legal and financial risks to him as she faces criminal trials in Nigeria and the UK.

The petition stated that they stopped living together in May 2015 after her ministerial appointment and in November 2021, citing an irretrievable marriage breakdown. It further said Diezani filed a petition for dissolution of marriage at the High Court of Nasarawa State. On April 13, 2022, judgment was delivered by Justice A. A. Ozegya, dissolving the marriage between the petitioner and the respondent.

Speaking further, the retired naval officer stated that the respondent faces public allegations of corruption and financial misconduct, for which trials are ongoing for both.

He said the persistent portrayal of the respondent as his spouse creates an impression of embarrassment and misleadingness and tarnishes his reputation, integrity, and public image.

Madueke, stated that his lawyers at Messrs Foundation Chambers sent a formal letter, dated December 14, 2023, urging the respondent to revert to her pre-marital name, Diezani Kogbeni Agama, following the legal dissolution of the marriage. However, she failed to comply with this request.

Therefore, he is now formally petitioning the court for an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Diezani from using his name.