Court Approve Substituted Service on Tonto Dikeh in ₦200 Million Suit Over Alleged Exorcism Inc!dent

Court Approve Substituted Service on Tonto Dikeh in ₦200 Million Suit Over Alleged Exorcism Incident

According to a report by Arise News on Wednesday, 13 May, 2026, In a development sending ripples through Nigeria’s entertainment and faith circles, a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has granted leave for substituted service on popular Nollywood actress and outspoken evangelist, Tonto Dikeh, in a high stakes fundamental rights lawsuit seeking N200 million in damages.

The court’s order, which permits service of court processes via email, paves the way for the case to proceed despite challenges in locating or personally serving the actress.

The ruling marks the latest twist in a matter that has ignited heated debates about religion, celebrity influence, child rights, and the limits of public spiritual demonstrations in modern Nigeria.

The suit was filed by human rights lawyer Barrister Ikechukwu Obasi on behalf of a Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS1) pupil from Durumi II in Abuja.

According to court documents, the incident occurred on March 6, 2026, during a religious deliverance session that Dikeh allegedly conducted on the minor.

A video of the event, which reportedly went viral after being posted on the actress’s social media pages, forms the crux of the allegations.23

The claimant contends that the young girl originally from Rivers State was subjected to degrading and humiliating treatment during the exorcism ritual.

Lawyers argue that the public nature of the session violated the child’s fundamental rights to human dignity and privacy, as protected under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Child Rights Act, 2003.