Rita Edochie disputes legal status of Judy Austin’s marriage

Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has publicly addressed fellow actress Judy Austin regarding the legal status of her relationship with Yul Edochie. In a statement shared on Instagram, Edochie argued that a woman should not claim the title of ‘second wife’ if the man’s previous statutory marriage has not been legally dissolved.

Edochie emphasized that family acceptance, grand wedding ceremonies, or the presence of children do not invalidate an existing statutory marriage. She warned that separation, lack of communication, or a man’s personal claims that a marriage is over do not constitute a legal divorce. She further cautioned that attempting a subsequent statutory marriage while a previous one is still subsisting could result in the new marriage being void and carrying serious legal consequences.