Rita Edochie Challenges Judy Austin to Show Marriage Certificate in Defamation Case

Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has reacted to the defamation lawsuit filed against her by Judy Austin. Judy is asking Rita to show proof of her marriage to actor Yul Edochie.

Reports say Judy has sued Rita and her ex-husband, Emmanuel Obasi, for ₦1 billion in damages and other requests from each of them.

In the lawsuit filed through her lawyer, Anozie Obi of Rubicom Legal Partners, Judy wants the court to force Rita to publish a full apology in two national newspapers and on her social media pages.

The report added that Rita has been against the marriage after Yul publicly introduced Judy. Rita has also urged Judy to leave Yul several times.

Judy is also asking the court for an order to stop Rita, her agents, and others from making more defamatory statements about her. She wants “an order directing the defendant to take down all defamatory statements made by her against the claimant on all her online platforms. An order directing the defendant to pay the claimant the sum of fifty million naira (N50,000,000.00) only, as costs of prosecuting this suit.

She is asking for “10% post judgment interest from the date of judgment to the date of the final liquidation of the judgment sum. The defendant may pay the amount endorsed herein to the Claimant’s solicitors mentioned hereafter within the time allowed for appearance and upon such payment, proceedings shall terminate.”

“Show Your Certificate”

In response to the lawsuit, Rita posted a statement on her Instagram page on Tuesday. She said she does not know Judy.

Rita mentioned she would only respond if Judy showed proof of her marriage to Yul. She said, “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.

Emmanuel Obasi

In the lawsuit against Mr Obasi, Judy wants him to publish a full apology in at least two widely read national newspapers and on his social media pages.

She demanded, “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, his agents, and privies from further publishing or circulating the defamatory statements against the claimant. An order directing the defendant to take down all defamatory statements made by him against the Claimant on all his online Platforms.

“An order directing the defendant to pay the claimant the sum of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000.00) only, as costs of prosecuting this suit. The sum of N500,000,000.00 (five hundred million naira) in aggravated damages for the persistent making and repeated publications of defamatory statements over a prolonged period despite the harmful consequences.”

Other Demands

Judy also wants post-judgment interest on all monetary awards and for the court to consider any other orders it finds suitable.

“The sum of N500,000,000.00 (Five hundred Million Naira) in exemplary damages to mark the court’s disapproval of the defendant’s alleged deliberate and malicious conduct and to deter similar conduct. An order directing the defendant to pay the sum of N100,000,000.00 (one hundred million naira) as the cost of this action.

“Post judgment interest on all monetary awards at the rate of 10% per annum, or such rate as this Honourable Court may deem appropriate, from the date of judgment until final liquidation. The defendant may pay the amount endorsed herein to the claimant’s solicitors mentioned hereafter within the time allowed for appearance and upon such payment, proceedings shall terminate.”

The legal action comes after a long-standing feud, with Mr Obasi often accusing Judy of having an affair with Yul during their marriage. He also claimed Judy denied him access to his children.

Reports say Judy has always denied these claims. She insists her marriage to Mr Obasi ended in 2013 and that she did not have any relationship with Yul while still married.

Obasi Speaks

Meanwhile, Mr Obasi has acknowledged the court papers served to him by Judy. In a viral video on Tuesday, he showed the court documents he received from a court messenger. The case will start on 29 September at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He said, “As you people can see, it’s now official that Judy Austin has filed a lawsuit against me. I’ve received the lawsuit from the court messenger.”