By Gbemisola Azeez
Nollywood actress Judy Austin has filed separate defamation lawsuits against her ex-husband, Emmanuel Chukwuobasi, and Rita Edochie, seeking a combined ₦2 billion in damages.
Judy is demanding ₦1 billion each from Chukwuobasi and Edochie over statements she alleges were defamatory and damaging to her reputation.
In the suit against Chukwuobasi, she is also seeking ₦100 million in legal costs.
Judy wants the court to order Chukwuobasi to retract the alleged defamatory statements, remove the posts from his social media platforms and publish a public apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers.
Chukwuobasi has confirmed receiving the lawsuit. In a video circulated online, he acknowledged that court documents had been served on him.
Judy also filed a separate ₦1 billion suit against Rita Edochie, who has repeatedly criticised the actress online.
She is seeking damages and other legal remedies over what she describes as defamatory statements.
Edochie has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit.
The legal actions come amid the long-running public controversy surrounding Judy Austin’s relationship and marriage to actor Yul Edochie.
The dispute gained widespread attention following Yul Edochie’s separation from his first wife, May Edochie.
The latest lawsuits have now taken the dispute to court, with Judy seeking legal redress over the alleged defamatory statements.
