Emmanuel Obasi, the former husband of Nollywood actress Judy Austin, has reacted defiantly to a ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed against him by the actress, declaring that the legal action will not stop him from demanding access to their children.
Austin, who is married to actor Yul Edochie, filed the suit a few days ago seeking ₦1 billion in damages. She alleged that Obasi made defamatory public statements about their past marriage and related matters that damaged her reputation.
Court documents also seek an order compelling him to publish a full, unreserved retraction and apology in national newspapers and on his social media platforms, as well as to remove the contested statements.
Obasi confirmed receiving the court papers and addressed the matter in a video and statements shared on social media, including Facebook. He expressed amusement at the size of the claim.
“You sue me for one billion. You feel say I go count am? I laugh,” Obasi said. In another comment, he remarked: “One billion. Mr Obasi has become Central Bank. You sue me one billion. You fit count them? I’m just laughing since yesterday.”
He insisted the lawsuit would not silence him or deter his efforts regarding their children. “Do you think the lawsuit can scare me away from asking for my children? The answer is no,” he stated. “There is nothing I cannot do to have my children. Just mark my word. Why are you hiding my children from me? Why are you manipulating those children? … Either I have my children or I go to jail.”
Obasi referenced a detail in the lawsuit stating that he last called Austin in 2018. He questioned what followed that contact and accused her of blocking him and denying him access. He maintained that speaking about his pain over being separated from the children does not constitute defamation, arguing that defamation involves false claims.
The dispute between Austin and Obasi has been public for years. It intensified earlier in 2026 when Obasi appeared on a podcast and made allegations about the circumstances of their marriage breakdown and claims involving Yul Edochie.
Austin has consistently denied those claims, stating that their marriage ended in 2012 or 2013 and that she first met Edochie years later on a movie set. She has previously labelled Obasi a “deadbeat father” and denied restricting his access to the children.
Austin has also filed a separate defamation suit against veteran actress Rita Edochie, Yul Edochie’s relative, seeking substantial damages over alleged defamatory remarks.
As of Wednesday, August 12, 2026, neither Austin nor her legal team had issued a further public response to Obasi’s latest comments. The cases remain before the courts.
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