Nollywood actress Judy Austin has filed a lawsuit demanding N1 billion in damages from veteran actress Rita Edochie over alleged defamatory statements.
Austin publicised the writ of summons on her official Instagram page, saying “Enough is enough!”
According to the court documents, she is seeking “the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) only, as general damages for defamation.”
She is also asking the court to order Edochie to publish a full, unreserved retraction and apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and on her social media platforms.
Austin further seeks a perpetual injunction restraining Edochie, her agents and privies from publishing or circulating the alleged defamatory statements, as well as an order directing the removal of such statements from all online platforms.
The suit was filed by her legal team, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Anozie Obinnaya Obi, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Edochie is required to appear in court within the period specified after the documents are served on her.
“Show your certificate”
Responding to the lawsuit, Rita said in a statement posted on her Instagram page on Tuesday that she did not know Austin.
She said she would address the case in court only if Austin provided evidence that he was married to Yul.
“I received a message from one Mrs Judith Yul Edochie, and up till now, I am still wondering and utterly confused about who the bearer of that name is, because I don’t know anyone by that name. As a matter of fact, the only Mrs Yul Edochie that I know is Queen May Yul Edochie. Wanting to be addressed by that name is very provocative right now, which I take as a terrible slap on the face of the Edochies.
“Anyway, since you are insisting on being addressed that way, I would like you to present your marriage certificate, highlighting the exact confirmation of that weird name, “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie.” Only then will I give a further response to this very message”, said the actress.
