Tonto Dikeh Faces ₦200M Schoolgirl Lawsuit as Court Orders New Service Method
The legal case involving Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh and an Abuja schoolgirl has taken another turn. A High Court in Abuja has now approved a fresh request to serve court documents on the actress through substituted means in the ongoing ₦200 million lawsuit.
Human rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi filed the case on behalf of the child. The suit accuses Dikeh of violating the child’s rights during a public religious “exorcism” that allegedly appeared online.
According to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, the matter came before Justice Maryann E. Anenih of the FCT High Court in Abuja. Earlier efforts to serve the actress through email reportedly failed. As a result, the applicant filed a fresh ex parte motion asking the court to approve another method of service.
Counsel to the applicant, C.E. Okoro Esq., asked the court for permission to paste the court documents at Dikeh’s last known address in Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja. The application also requested approval to send the documents to a newly verified email address.
After reviewing the request, the court granted the application. The judge later adjourned the matter until June 10, 2026, for hearing.
The lawsuit followed an incident that allegedly took place on March 6, 2026. Photos and videos shared online reportedly showed the Junior Secondary School 1 child lying on bare ground during a public spiritual healing session.
Obasi argued that the images and videos violated the child’s constitutional rights to dignity and privacy. He also stated that publicly portraying the child as spiritually possessed could expose the child to ridicule, stigma, and emotional trauma.
Speaking on the latest development, Obasi said the earlier email addresses approved by the court became inactive during service attempts.
“As of today, the bailiff of the court confirmed that she has been served. We also sent mail to the newly verified email as an alternative,” he said.
The lawyer added that every legal option was being explored to ensure the actress became aware of the case.
Beyond the ₦200 million compensation claim, the suit also seeks the removal of the videos and photographs from social media. It further requests a public apology in national newspapers and a court order preventing similar actions against children in the future.
