Actress Rita Edochie responds to Judy Austin’s defamation lawsuit

By Folashade Olorunfemi –

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has reacted to a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed against her by her colleague, Judy Austin, at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The suit, filed amid the ongoing family dispute involving the Edochies, accuses Rita of defamation and seeks ₦1 billion in general damages.

Judy is also asking the court to compel Rita to publish a full and unreserved retraction and apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and on her social media platforms.

She further wants the alleged defamatory statements removed from all online platforms and an order restraining Rita from making or circulating further statements she considers defamatory. She is also seeking ₦50 million as the cost of prosecuting the suit.

According to the court documents shared by Judy on Instagram, Rita has 30 days from the date of service to enter an appearance in the case, either personally or through a legal practitioner.

Reacting to the suit, Rita said she was “utterly confused” by the name used by Judy in the case, insisting that she did not know anyone called “Mrs Judith Yul-Edochie”.

Rita argued that the only person she recognised as “Mrs Yul Edochie” was Queen May Yul-Edochie and challenged Judy to present a marriage certificate bearing the name “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie” before she would respond further to the legal action.

She maintained that the lawsuit would not stop her from speaking on the ongoing Edochie family dispute, adding in her Instagram post: “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”.