Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has reacted to the ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed against her by Judy Austin.
The suit was reportedly filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. Judy also shared the court documents on her verified Instagram page. She is seeking ₦1 billion in damages over alleged defamatory statements. She is also demanding ₦50 million for legal costs. In addition, Judy wants a public apology in two national newspapers and on Rita’s social media pages. She also wants allegedly defamatory posts removed.
However, Rita has responded to the lawsuit with a strong statement on Instagram. The actress said she was confused by the name used in the legal documents. According to Rita, she does not know anyone called “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie.” She further stated,
“The only Mrs Yul Edochie that I know is Queen May Yul Edochie.”
Rita also described Judy’s use of the name as provocative.
Meanwhile, Rita challenged Judy to provide evidence of the name she used in the lawsuit. She specifically asked her to present a marriage certificate bearing the name “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie.” Rita said she would only respond further after seeing the document. She also suggested that the lawsuit would not stop her from speaking about the ongoing Edochie family drama.
The latest development adds another twist to the much-publicised Edochie family controversy. Both women have previously made strong statements amid the ongoing dispute. Now, the legal battle could bring even more attention to their long-running conflict.
For fans of Nigerian entertainment, Rita’s latest response has already sparked fresh reactions online. The case is expected to attract more public interest as the legal proceedings continue.
