With the rise of social media feuds and online smear campaigns, more celebrities are increasingly turning to lawsuits as a way to silence defamation and protect their reputation.
The latest to take this route is May Edochie, estranged wife of Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, who has filed a legal action against her former lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye.
Through a cease-and-desist notice issued by her legal team, Graylaw Partners, May accused Ugwuonye of cyberbullying, defamation, and cyberstalking, citing his repeated publication of damaging posts about her online.
“These posts are a calculated assault on our client’s reputation and have further imperiled her safety through malicious threats and false allegations. Beyond your own publications, you have incited third parties to amplify these communications, causing her severe and irreparable harm,” the letter read.
Her lawyers argued that Ugwuonye’s conduct went beyond mere defamation, amounting to ridicule, harassment, and malicious attacks that exposed her to greater risks.
As part of her demands, May is insisting on the immediate removal of all defamatory publications, a retraction of the posts, and a public apology across all his platforms. She is also asking for ₦1 billion in damages as compensation for the harm caused.
The notice warned that failure to comply would result in further legal proceedings.
May’s move adds to the growing trend of public figures relying on the courts to counter online character attacks, underlining how lawsuits are increasingly being used as a weapon to hold offenders accountable in the digital age.
