Rita Edochie Denies Disavowing Posts About Judy Austin in N1 Billion Suit

Veteran Nollywood performer Rita Edochie has rejected reports that she disavowed social media messages aimed at fellow actress Judy Austin during an active court case. The denial came after attorney Emeka Ugwuonye asserted that Edochie had denied writing the posts in a formal reply submitted to the High Court in Abuja. Edochie pushed back against that account, saying the lawyer’s statement did not reflect her stance. She also asked how such a conclusion could be reached when she had not yet formally appeared before the court. She continued to defend her earlier remarks about the widely covered marital conflict involving Yul Edochie—her husband’s nephew—his estranged wife May, and his second wife, Judy Austin. Edochie said everything she had posted was accurate. The dispute is tied to a N1 billion defamation and cyberbullying suit Austin filed against Edochie at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja. In addition to seeking N1 billion in general damages, Austin wants the court to order the veteran actress to issue a complete and unequivocal retraction and public apology in no fewer than two national newspapers with wide circulation and on all her social media accounts. The suit also seeks the immediate deletion of the allegedly defamatory statements from online platforms and asks Edochie to pay N50 million to cover the full costs of pursuing the case. The case’s formal hearing is scheduled to begin on September 29. In a social media post, Edochie said the 29th had not yet arrived and that she had not gone to court, while complaining that social media was spreading falsehoods that she had denied material copied from her page. She posed a series of questions to Austin, answering yes to each: whether Austin took someone’s husband, whether she had a child for him, whether she had been in court claiming they were not married while saying they were skit makers, whether they stayed and did other things at Hotel Helson on New Market Road, Nkpor, after New Parts before Nkpor Junction, and whether Austin sued her using a name that was not hers. Edochie urged people to calm down and ask Austin to ensure she appears in court on September 29, 2026. She also referred to herself as Ijele and said the matter was final, addressed gossipers, and claimed she always walks the walk with her model K legs. She then greeted her followers, wished them a happy Sunday, and said she loves them and never takes their affection for granted.