Rita Edochie Breaks Silence on Claims She Is Worried Over Judy Austin’s Lawsuit

Veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has dismissed claims that she is worried or losing sleep over the defamation lawsuit filed against her by actress Judy Austin. Edochie reacted to the speculation in a social media post, questioning why she should be afraid of the legal action and suggesting that the lawsuit could instead provide an opportunity for her to address issues she had previously chosen not to discuss publicly. The development is the latest chapter in the long-running public dispute between the two actresses, which has largely centred on Judy Austin’s relationship with actor Yul Edochie and the controversies surrounding his former marriage to May Edochie. Judy Austin reportedly instituted a ₦1 billion defamation suit against Rita Edochie and Yul Edochie’s former associate, Emmanuel Obasi, over statements and allegations she considers defamatory. According to earlier reports, the suit against Rita seeks ₦1 billion in general damages, alongside a public apology, the removal of alleged defamatory statements and ₦50 million in legal costs. The legal action has since generated significant attention online, particularly because of Rita’s repeated criticism of Judy. Rather than expressing concern about the lawsuit, Rita appeared to welcome the opportunity to defend her statements in court. She said she had deliberately kept certain information to herself because she did not want to force some conversations into the public space. However, she suggested that the legal proceedings could now give her an avenue to present what she knows. Rita maintained that if the statements she had made were false, the court should determine that and establish whether they amounted to defamation. However, if she could substantiate her claims, she said she was prepared to say more. The actress also indicated that she was looking forward to the court proceedings, although she said her immediate attention was on celebrating May Edochie’s birthday. The latest development follows an earlier reaction from Rita to the lawsuit in which she challenged Judy to face her in court and questioned allegations surrounding the circumstances of Judy’s relationship with Yul Edochie. The dispute has continued to attract widespread attention, with both sides taking their grievances beyond social media and into the legal arena. A lawyer who previously commented on the case described Judy’s decision to seek legal redress as the appropriate course of action, stressing that allegations made publicly must be supported with evidence where necessary. As the legal battle progresses, attention is now shifting from social media exchanges to what both parties may present before the court. For now, the allegations made by either side remain matters for determination through the appropriate legal process.