Nollywood actress Judy Austin has dragged veteran actress Rita Edochie before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over alleged defamatory statements, demanding N1 billion in general damages.
Austin disclosed the development through a post on her verified Instagram account, where she shared a copy of the writ of summons filed against Edochie.
According to the court document, Austin is the claimant, while Rita Edochie is listed as the defendant in the suit.
The actress is seeking several orders from the court, including financial compensation over what she described as defamatory statements allegedly made and circulated by the veteran actress.
One of the major demands contained in the suit is N1 billion in general damages for alleged defamation.
The document stated: “The sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only, as general damages for defamation.”
Beyond the financial compensation, Judy Austin is also asking the court to compel Rita Edochie to issue a full and unreserved retraction and apology over the alleged defamatory statements.
According to the writ, the proposed retraction and apology should be published in at least two widely circulated national newspapers as well as on Edochie’s social media platforms.
Austin is further seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Edochie, her agents and privies from allegedly publishing, repeating or circulating the statements that Austin considers defamatory.
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The actress also wants the court to direct the veteran actress to remove the alleged defamatory content from all online platforms where they may have been published.
In addition to the N1 billion general damages, Austin is demanding N50 million as the cost of prosecuting the lawsuit.
She is also seeking 10 per cent post-judgement interest on the judgement sum until the amount is fully paid.
The court document indicates that the lawsuit was filed by Austin’s legal representatives, including Anozie Obinnaya Obi, SAN, alongside other lawyers.
Following the development, Austin shared the court document with her followers on Instagram and accompanied the post with a brief but emphatic statement: “Enough is enough!”
The legal action marks a significant escalation in the long-running public tensions surrounding Judy Austin and members of the Edochie family.
Rita Edochie, a veteran Nollywood actress and close associate of the Edochie family, has previously made several public comments concerning developments involving Judy Austin and actor Yul Edochie.
The dispute has generated considerable attention on social media, particularly because of the highly publicised relationship between Judy Austin and Yul Edochie.
The latest lawsuit now moves the disagreement from social media into the courtroom, where the allegations and claims can be formally addressed through legal proceedings.
It is important to note that the allegations contained in the lawsuit are claims made by the claimant and have not, by themselves, established that Rita Edochie is legally liable for defamation.
The court will have the opportunity to hear arguments from both sides and determine the merits of the case based on the evidence and applicable law.
The writ also requires Edochie to appear before the court within the period specified in the document after it has been properly served on her.
The development has already attracted reactions from social media users, with many Nigerians closely following the dispute because of the personalities involved.
Judy Austin’s decision to pursue legal action also highlights the increasingly common use of defamation lawsuits in resolving disputes involving public figures, particularly where statements made online are alleged to have damaged an individual’s reputation.
With the suit now before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, attention will likely shift from social media exchanges to the formal legal process.
The case could potentially result in further public interest as both parties present their positions before the court.
For now, Judy Austin is seeking N1 billion in damages, a public apology and retraction, removal of the alleged defamatory statements, a permanent injunction against further publication, N50 million in legal costs and post-judgement interest.
The next stage will depend on the formal service of the court processes and Rita Edochie’s response to the claims.
