The actress responds to Judy Austin’s ₦1 billion defamation suit by demanding a marriage certificate bearing the name “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie”

Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has challenged fellow actress Judy Austin to produce a marriage certificate proving her claim to the name “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie”, following a reported ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed against Edochie in Abuja on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

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Judy Austin reportedly filed the suit against Rita Edochie at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, seeking ₦1 billion in general damages over alleged defamatory statements. She is also seeking ₦50 million in legal costs, as well as other court orders relating to the alleged publications.

The legal action marks a significant escalation in the long-running public disagreement between the two actresses, which has largely played out through social media and comments concerning the Edochie family.

Austin reportedly shared the court document online on Tuesday with the brief message, “Enough is enough!!!”

According to reports on the writ of summons, Austin is asking the court to compel Edochie to issue a full and unreserved retraction and apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and across her social media platforms.

She is also seeking the removal of the allegedly defamatory statements from online platforms and an order restraining Edochie, her agents and associates from making further statements of a similar nature.

The suit reportedly includes a claim for ₦50 million to cover the cost of prosecuting the case, while the claimant is also seeking 10 per cent post-judgment interest on the judgment sum until it is fully paid.

Rita Edochie has since responded publicly, but rather than address the reported damages claim directly, she focused on the name used by Austin in the legal document.

Edochie said she was confused after receiving a message addressed to her from someone identified as “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie”.

She insisted that the only person she recognises as “Mrs Yul Edochie” is May Edochie, Yul Edochie’s first wife.

“As a matter of fact, the only Mrs Yul Edochie that I know is Queen May Yul Edochie,” Rita said in her response.

She went on to challenge Austin to produce a marriage certificate bearing the name she used in the court proceedings.

“Since you are insistent 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 further response to this very message,” Edochie wrote.

The response has added another layer to an already complicated dispute that has attracted considerable attention among Nollywood followers.

Rita Edochie, who is related to Yul Edochie, has publicly supported May Edochie throughout the controversy surrounding Yul’s relationship with Judy Austin.

Yul Edochie publicly announced Judy Austin as his second wife in 2022, a development that generated widespread discussion because he was already married to May Edochie.

Since then, the relationships within the family have remained a recurring subject of public debate, with Rita Edochie frequently making comments in support of May and criticising aspects of Judy Austin’s relationship with Yul.

The latest legal action therefore represents a shift from a largely public and social media dispute towards a formal judicial process.

Reports indicate that Rita Edochie has been given 30 days from the date of service of the writ to enter an appearance, either personally or through legal representation.

The filing itself does not establish that the statements complained of were defamatory. Those are allegations made by the claimant, and Rita Edochie will have an opportunity to respond through the court process.

Similarly, the ₦1 billion being sought is the amount requested by Judy Austin in damages, rather than an award already made by the court.

The case also comes amid a wider legal dispute involving Austin and her former husband, Emmanuel Obasi. Reports indicate that Austin has separately filed a defamation action against Obasi, also seeking ₦1 billion in damages.

The two cases have consequently placed the long-running controversy involving Austin, Yul Edochie, May Edochie and members of the wider Edochie family under renewed public scrutiny.

For now, Rita Edochie’s challenge over the name “Mrs Judith Yul Edochie” has become one of the most prominent elements of the latest development.

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Whether the dispute over the name becomes part of the substantive legal arguments remains to be seen. The court proceedings will ultimately determine the merits of the defamation claims and any remedies that may follow.