David Ochayi
(Judy Austin, Rita Edochie. Photo by Newsunplug)
Nollywood star Judy Austin has escalated her feud with industry veteran Rita Edochie by filing a high-stakes defamation lawsuit at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, demanding a staggering ₦1 billion in compensation.
The legal action unfolded publicly when Austin shared the court documents on her verified Instagram profile, confirming her as the claimant and Edochie as the respondent in the explosive case.
Court filings reveal Austin seeks substantial reparation for reputational harm, alongside demands for Edochie to issue formal apologies in prominent national publications and across her digital platforms. The actress has left nothing to chance, requesting judicial enforcement to scrub all offending content from cyberspace.
In a strategic legal move, Austin’s attorneys have petitioned for a sweeping permanent injunction that would muzzle Edochie and any affiliates from circulating further damaging remarks about their client. The lawsuit meticulously itemizes additional claims, including ₦50 million for legal expenses and accruing interest on the judgment until full satisfaction.
The heavy-hitting legal team, spearheaded by distinguished silk Anozie Obinnaya Obi, SAN, has set the stage for a dramatic courtroom showdown. Austin punctuated her Instagram revelation with a terse warning: “Enough is enough!” Court procedures now compel Edochie’s formal response within the statutory response window.
