Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has responded to the defamation lawsuit filed against her by her colleague, Judy Austin, challenging Austin to produce her marriage certificate to actor Yul Edochie.
PREMIUM TIMES gathered that Austin sued Rita and her former husband, Emmanuel Obasi, seeking ₦1 billion in damages and other reliefs from each of them.
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In the suit filed through her lawyer, Anozie Obi of Rubicom Legal Partners, Austin asked the court to compel Rita to publish a full and unreserved retraction and apology in two national newspapers and on her social media platforms.
The newspaper reported that Rita opposed the union after Yul publicly unveiled Austin and had repeatedly urged her to leave the actor.
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Austin also asked the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining Rita, her agents and privies from further publishing or circulating defamatory statements about her.
“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.
“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”, she demanded.
“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.
Emmanuel Obasi
In the lawsuit against Mr Obasi, Austin asked him to publish a full and unreserved retraction and apology in at least two widely circulated national newspapers and on his social media platforms.
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
Additionally, Austin demanded post-judgment interest on all monetary awards and on any other orders the court may deem appropriate in the circumstances.
“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 follows an escalation in a feud that has played out publicly for years, with Mr Obasi repeatedly levelling allegations against Austin, including claims that she had an extramarital affair with actor Yul Edochie during their marriage, and that she denied him access to his children, among other issues.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Austin has consistently pushed back against these claims, insisting that her marriage to Mr Obasi ended in 2013 and that no intimacy existed between her and Edochie while she remained in that union.
READ ALSO: “Ive evidence Judy Austin, Yul Edochie were dating under my roof” Ex-husband alleges
Obasi speaks
Meanwile, Mr Obasi has acknowledged the writ of summons and hearing notice of the case filed against him by Austin.
In a viral video obtained by this newspaper on Tuesday, Mr Obasi received the court papers from a court messenger, who said the case would commence 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.”
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