The estranged wife of Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, May Yul Edochie, has dragged her former lawyer, Emeka Ugwuonye, to court with a ₦1 billion lawsuit, accusing him of cyberbullying, defamation, and cyberstalking.
According to a cease-and-desist notice issued by her legal representatives, Graylaw Partners, Ugwuonye allegedly embarked on a sustained online smear campaign, publishing damaging posts about May across multiple social media platforms. Her lawyers described the conduct as “a calculated assault” that not only injured her reputation but also placed her personal safety at risk.
The notice detailed that the alleged defamatory content went beyond ordinary criticism, amounting to harassment, ridicule, and incitement of third parties to spread malicious claims. The legal team argued that the repeated attacks had caused May “severe and irreparable harm,” particularly at a time when she is navigating public scrutiny following her marital fallout with Yul Edochie.
Among her demands, May is insisting on the immediate removal of all defamatory posts, a public apology across all of Ugwuonye’s social media channels, and a formal undertaking that such publications will not recur. The letter further warned that non-compliance would trigger full legal proceedings, where she would pursue damages aggressively.
Significantly, the lawsuit pegs compensation at ₦1 billion — a figure her lawyers argue reflects both the gravity of reputational damage and the potential danger caused by alleged incitement against her. Legal observers say the case could set a precedent in Nigeria’s cybercrime and defamation jurisprudence, especially as public figures increasingly battle online harassment.
This legal showdown comes amid heightened conversations about digital accountability and cyber harassment laws in Nigeria, with activists pointing to May’s case as a test of whether high-profile women can successfully challenge online abuse in court. The Cybercrime Act (2015) criminalises cyberstalking and malicious online communications, but enforcement has often been inconsistent.
As the case gains traction, it is expected to stir debate both within the Nollywood community and beyond. While May has remained firm on reclaiming her dignity through the courts, all eyes are now on how Emeka Ugwuonye responds — and whether this ₦1 billion lawsuit will reshape the boundaries of online speech, reputation, and accountability in Nigeria.
