From Yul’s controversial second marriage and accusations of marital interference to a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit, the prolonged family disagreement takes another dramatic turn.

 

The ongoing controversy surrounding Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, his first wife, May Edochie, and his second wife, Judy Austin, has continued to generate heated discussions. Veteran actress Rita Edochie, Yul’s aunt by marriage, has remained one of Judy’s most outspoken critics. The disagreement, which began following Yul’s announcement of his second marriage in April 2022, has since escalated into public confrontations, accusations and legal proceedings.

RITA EDOCHIE REIGNITES HER FEUD WITH JUDY AUSTIN

The long-running disagreement between veteran Nollywood actress Rita Edochie and actress Judy Austin, the second wife of actor Yul Edochie, has continued to attract attention following another round of social media controversy.

Rita, who has consistently defended May Edochie since the controversy surrounding Yul’s second marriage became public, has repeatedly expressed her displeasure with Judy.

The actress has maintained that her position is based on what she considers an injustice against May, who was married to Yul before he publicly introduced Judy as his second wife.

A statement circulating online, attributed to Rita, reads:

“I am not her sister-in-law. Until she takes off the spell, I will remain her karma.”

The statement has generated conversations among followers of the Edochie family controversy, particularly because Rita has repeatedly questioned Judy’s place within the family.

However, the exact wording and original publication date of this particular quotation could not be independently verified. It should therefore be treated as an attributed statement rather than an authenticated verbatim quotation.

Nevertheless, Rita’s previous statements provide a clear picture of her position. She has openly criticised Judy, questioned her relationship with Yul and repeatedly insisted that she will continue defending May.

HOW THE CONTROVERSY STARTED: YUL EDOCHIE’S SECOND MARRIAGE

To understand why Rita and Judy have continued exchanging words, it is important to revisit the events that brought the Edochie family into the centre of public controversy.

Yul Edochie was married to May Edochie, and their relationship was widely admired by fans. They shared children and frequently appeared together at public events and on social media.

However, on April 27, 2022, Yul surprised many Nigerians when he publicly announced that he had taken Judy Austin as his second wife and welcomed a son with her.

The announcement generated widespread reactions because Yul was still married to May at the time.

Many Nigerians expressed disappointment, while others defended his decision, arguing that marriage arrangements were personal matters.

May’s response and the subsequent public developments attracted considerable sympathy from fans, many of whom felt she had been placed in an unfair situation.

The controversy also drew reactions from members of Yul’s extended family, particularly Rita Edochie, who openly opposed the circumstances surrounding the new relationship.

Rita’s disagreement with Judy consequently became one of the most visible aspects of the wider family dispute.

JULY 27, 2023: RITA TELLS JUDY TO RELEASE YUL

One of Rita’s most widely reported confrontations with Judy occurred on July 27, 2023.

The veteran actress took to Instagram to express her anger over the circumstances surrounding Yul’s second marriage.

She accused Judy of taking another woman’s husband and insisted that she should allow the actor to return to his former family.

In one of her posts, Rita wrote:

“Not every woman can snatch someone’s husband. It’s time for the person who snatched Yul to let him go. Yes, I said it. I am still the fear that fear fears.”

She also warned:

“Snatch my husband anyhow, and I will correct you anyhow by sending you to God knows where.”

The statements generated considerable reactions, particularly among supporters of May, who praised Rita for publicly defending her.

However, others criticised her approach, arguing that the matter should not have become a prolonged social media confrontation.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023: YUL CONFRONTS HIS AUNT OVER HER ATTACKS ON JUDY

The disagreement eventually involved Yul himself.

On September 20, 2023, the actor responded to Rita after she repeatedly criticised his relationship with Judy.

Yul expressed disappointment that his aunt continued discussing his marital affairs publicly.

He also questioned why she had not personally reached out to him following the death of his son, Kambilichukwu, but appeared willing to discuss his marriage on social media.

Rita subsequently defended her position, explaining why she repeatedly directed her criticism at Judy rather than Yul.

In her response, she said:

“My dear son, you are not the subject matter, and that is the reason I don’t talk about you because I know you are not yourself anymore.”

She further alleged that Judy had caged or bottled him.

Rita wrote “You are being caged/bottled by your so-called wife, whom you picked, not knowing when and how you did.”

Her comments introduced another controversial dimension to the disagreement, particularly because of the spiritual language she used when describing Judy’s influence over Yul.

It is important to note that Rita’s claims about spiritual manipulation have not been established as facts.

FEBRUARY 26, 2024: RITA QUESTIONS JUDY’S RELATIONSHIP ADVICE

The disagreement continued in February 2024 following a relationship-advice programme involving Yul and Judy.

During the online programme, Judy offered advice to young women, encouraging them to prioritise education and personal development rather than abandoning their ambitions to perform domestic responsibilities for boyfriends.

Her message generated mixed reactions, with some people appreciating the advice.

Rita, however, was unimpressed.

The actress questioned Judy’s decision to advise women on relationships, considering the controversy surrounding her own relationship with Yul.

Reacting, Rita wrote:

“HOW CAN YOU HOLD SOMEBODY’S HUSBAND TO RANSOME, AND YOU ARE BLABBING EVERY NOW AND THEN?

BUT I LAUGH BECAUSE THE END WILL BE DISASTROUS, YOU CAN NEVER MOCK GOD.

WHAT HE WILL DO WILL SHOCK YOU.”

Her response generated another heated discussion, with supporters agreeing with her criticism while others maintained that Judy’s advice should be judged independently of her personal life.

AUGUST 11, 2026: JUDY TAKES RITA EDOCHIE TO COURT OVER ALLEGED DEFAMATION

The disagreement took a more serious turn on August 11, 2026, when Judy Austin instituted a defamation lawsuit against Rita Edochie and her former husband, Emmanuel Obasi.

Judy filed separate legal actions against the two individuals over statements she considered defamatory.

In the suit against Rita, Judy demanded ₦1 billion in general damages.

She also asked the court to order Rita to:

Publish a full and unreserved apology in at least two national newspapers.

Publish the apology on her social media platforms.

Remove the allegedly defamatory statements from her online platforms.

Refrain from making further statements she considers defamatory.

Pay ₦50 million as the cost of prosecuting the case.

Judy’s decision to pursue legal action marked a major escalation in the disagreement, moving the controversy from social media exchanges into the courtroom.

She accompanied the publication of the legal documents on Instagram with the words:

“Enough is enough!”

The case against Rita was separate from the action against Emmanuel Obasi, who is Judy’s former husband.

RITA RESPONDS TO THE LAWSUIT: “THE ONLY MRS YUL EDOCHIE I KNOW IS QUEEN MAY”

Following the legal action, Rita responded publicly, questioning Judy’s use of the name Mrs Judith Yul Edochie.

The actress insisted that the only woman she recognised by that name was May Edochie.

In her statement, Rita wrote:

“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.”

She further challenged Judy to present her marriage certificate.

Rita wrote:

“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.”

Her response generated widespread discussion, particularly over the recognition of Judy’s marriage to Yul and the legal implications of the disagreement.

However, the existence and legal status of a marriage should be determined through appropriate evidence and legal processes, not social media arguments.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2026: COURT ADJOURNS JUDY’S CASE AGAINST RITA AND OBASI

The legal dispute proceeded to court on September 29, 2026.

According to Premium Times, the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned the cases involving Judy, Rita and Emmanuel Obasi until November 24, 2026.

The proceedings brought the three individuals into the same legal controversy, although Judy’s claims against Rita and Obasi were filed separately.

After the court session, Rita spoke to journalists and maintained that her social media publications were intended to educate people about morality and the dangers of taking another person’s spouse.

She said “She doesn’t have the strength to stress me; rather, I’m the one stressing her.”

Rita also questioned Judy’s decision to seek ₦1 billion in damages.

She said “She sued me for N1 billion. N1 billion that she has never seen. Has she seen N1 billion?”

The actress insisted that she had written the content on her social media pages herself and stood by her position.

She added “Everything on my pages, I wrote them with my full chest. They are all for educational purposes. I have a right to educate people.”

Judy’s legal complaint remains an allegation before the court. The adjournment does not amount to a determination of liability against either defendant.

NOVEMBER 1, 2026: RITA EXPLAINS WHY SHE TARGETS JUDY INSTEAD OF YUL

The controversy attracted fresh attention on November 1, 2026, after Rita addressed people questioning why she repeatedly criticised Judy rather than Yul.

In a lengthy Instagram post, the actress explained that Yul was an adult who had the freedom to make his own relationship decisions.

She insisted that she would welcome any woman Yul chose to bring into the family, provided the person was not Judy.

Rita wrote:

“WHY DON’T YOU TALK ABOUT HIM, WHY ONLY HER ALL THE TIME????

“LISTEN, EVEN IF HE LATER SWITCHES FROM THE VERY BEAUTIFUL ITSEKIRI BABE TO A MENTALLY DERANGED WOMAN WEY NO DEY UNDERSTAND E SEF, I WILL GLADLY ENDORSE HIS DECISION. ANYBODY THAT IS NOT A DRAMA DEVIL IS WELCOME TO OUR CLAN E SHOCK YOU????

“MY GREAT SON IS A FULLY GROWN MAN. ODOGWU NA NTEJE CANNOT BE TOLD HOW TO LIVE HIS LIFE BIKO KWA.”

She also emphasised the importance of maintaining principles regardless of changing circumstances.

Rita added:

“MY PEOPLE, THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT PRINCIPLES IS THAT THEY DO NOT CHANGE JUST BECAUSE CIRCUMSTANCES HAVE CHANGED.”

Her post was interpreted as another direct criticism of Judy and an indication that the actress remained unwilling to change her position.

NOVEMBER 2, 2026: YUL’S ADVICE ON HOSTILE SISTERS-IN-LAW SPARKS ANOTHER DEBATE

Another development occurred on November 2, 2026, when Yul weighed in on a social media discussion about dealing with a hostile sister-in-law.

A woman had asked married women how they could win the approval of a sister-in-law who disliked them.

Although the question was directed at married women, Yul joined the conversation and responded:

“Ignore her. You don’t need her like for anything. Focus on impressing your husband.”

His response immediately attracted attention because of the ongoing disagreement between Judy and Rita.

Some social media users interpreted the comment as indirect advice to Judy on handling Rita.

Others found it ironic that Yul was offering advice on hostile in-laws while his own family situation had become a subject of public discussion.

However, Yul did not specifically mention Rita or Judy in his response.

MEET THE MAJOR FIGURES IN THE EDOCHIE FAMILY CONTROVERSY

RITA EDOCHIE: THE VETERAN ACTRESS WHO HAS CONSISTENTLY DEFENDED MAY

Rita Edochie is a veteran Nollywood actress known for her outspoken personality and roles in Nigerian films.

She is married to Tony Edochie, a younger brother of veteran actor Pete Edochie, making her Yul’s aunt by marriage.

Since Yul’s second marriage became public, Rita has consistently expressed support for May and criticised Judy.

Her outspoken position has earned her admiration from people who believe she is defending a woman who experienced public humiliation.

However, her approach has also attracted criticism from people who believe she should allow the younger couple to handle their private affairs without constant public interference.

JUDY AUSTIN: THE ACTRESS AT THE CENTRE OF THE CONTROVERSY

Judy Austin is a Nollywood actress and filmmaker who became widely discussed following Yul’s announcement of their relationship in April 2022.

Her relationship with the actor generated significant public attention because Yul was still married to May when he announced her as his second wife.

Since then, Judy has maintained a public presence through her acting career, social media activities and family-related content.

She has also faced criticism from supporters of May, particularly over the circumstances surrounding her relationship with Yul.

Her decision to institute defamation proceedings against Rita and her former husband demonstrates that the disagreement has moved beyond social media arguments.

YUL EDOCHIE: THE ACTOR WHOSE SECOND MARRIAGE SPARKED THE DISPUTE

Yul Edochie is a Nigerian actor, filmmaker and son of veteran actor Pete Edochie.

He built a successful career in Nollywood before his personal life became a major subject of public discussion in 2022.

His announcement of Judy as his second wife while still married to May generated widespread controversy.

Yul has repeatedly defended his personal decisions and criticised those who attack him over his family situation.

He has also publicly responded to Rita, particularly when he felt she was using his marital issues to generate social media attention.

MAY EDOCHIE: THE FIRST WIFE WHO RECEIVED WIDESPREAD PUBLIC SUPPORT

May Edochie became a major subject of public sympathy following Yul’s announcement of his second marriage.

She had spent years married to the actor and shared children with him.

Her response to the development attracted considerable attention, with many Nigerians expressing support for her.

May has since developed her public profile through business, brand partnerships and other professional engagements.

She has also become a prominent figure in discussions about women’s independence, marriage and rebuilding after difficult relationships.

Rita’s continued defence of May remains one of the major reasons her disagreement with Judy has attracted so much attention.

EMMANUEL OBASI: JUDY’S FORMER HUSBAND

Emmanuel Obasi is Judy Austin’s former husband and the father of her children from that relationship.

His name became prominent during the controversy surrounding Judy and Yul after he made allegations about the circumstances surrounding the end of his marriage.

Among other claims, Obasi alleged that Judy had an affair with Yul while they were still married and denied him access to their children.

Judy has rejected the allegations, maintaining that her marriage to Obasi ended in 2013 and that she had no intimate relationship with Yul while she was still married.

Obasi was also named in Judy’s separate 2026 defamation lawsuit.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS: NIGERIANS SUPPORT RITA EDOCHIE

Rita’s position has attracted support from Nigerians who believe she is defending May and standing against what they consider an injustice.

Some of the dominant opinions expressed by her supporters include:

Some commenters praised Rita for refusing to remain silent about a situation they believe hurt May.

Others argued that family members have the right to express disappointment when they believe a relative’s actions have caused pain to another family member.

Some described Rita as a woman who stands firmly by her principles.

Others maintained that May deserves the support she receives, particularly because the circumstances surrounding the second marriage played out publicly.

Some supporters praised Rita for standing by May rather than abandoning her during a difficult period.

Others argued that Judy should understand why some members of Yul’s extended family remain uncomfortable with the circumstances surrounding the marriage.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS: NIGERIANS CRITICISE RITA

Not everyone agrees with Rita’s approach.

Some social media users believe the actress has allowed the disagreement to continue for too long.

Their criticisms include:

Some questioned why Rita continues to engage in public arguments over another person’s marriage.

Others argued that Yul is an adult and should be allowed to make his own decisions.

Some maintained that repeatedly attacking Judy does not necessarily help May.

Others expressed concern that spiritual accusations and personal insults could make the disagreement more hostile.

Some advised Rita to allow the courts to handle the legal dispute instead of continuing to exchange words online.

Others argued that family disagreements should be resolved privately rather than becoming entertainment for social media audiences.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS: SUPPORT FOR JUDY AUSTIN

Judy also has supporters who believe she deserves the freedom to live her life without continuous public criticism.

Their arguments include:

They believe Judy should not be subjected to endless criticism over a relationship involving two consenting adults.

Others argue that whatever happened between Yul and May should not justify years of personal attacks against Judy.

Some believe Judy was right to seek legal protection if she felt her reputation was being damaged.

Others insist that a person’s past should not permanently disqualify them from offering advice on relationships.

Some supporters argue that Rita should focus on her own family rather than continually commenting on Judy.

SOCIAL MEDIA REACTIONS: CRITICISM OF JUDY AND YUL

Meanwhile, critics of Judy and Yul continue to argue that the circumstances surrounding their relationship explain why the controversy has remained intense.

Their opinions include:

Critics believe Yul should have handled the announcement of his second marriage with greater consideration for May and their children.

Others argue that Judy should be mindful of the circumstances surrounding her relationship before publicly presenting herself as an authority on marriage.

Some believe Yul’s responses to Rita demonstrate that he has not adequately addressed concerns within his extended family.

Others argue that both Yul and Judy should stop responding to every criticism and concentrate on their family.

Some commenters believe the prolonged disagreement has affected the public image of everyone involved.

Furthermore, what  started as a family disagreement following Yul Edochie’s second marriage has gradually developed into a prolonged public confrontation involving accusations, social media exchanges and legal proceeding.

Like Our Story ? Donate to Support Us, Click Here

You want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity/live coverage for product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +16477721660 or email Adebaconnector@gmail.com