ABUJA — Escalating a highly controversial legal battle involving one of Nollywood’s most high-profile figures, the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has granted a fresh ex parte order permitting substituted service on prominent Nigerian actress Tonto Dikeh. The development is tied directly to a massive ₦200 million fundamental human rights lawsuit filed against the screen diva by human rights lawyer, Barrister Ikechukwu Obasi, on behalf of an unnamed Abuja schoolgirl over an alleged public "exorcism" incident.

The legal action, structurally marked under suit number FCT/HC/CV/1149/2025 and Motion No. M/7795/2026, was brought before the court by Obasi, who is seeking substantial financial damages and a formal retraction on behalf of the minor. According to official court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, the high-stakes matter presided over by Justice Maryann E. Anenih saw the applicant filing a critical motion ex parte to bypass previous logistical roadblocks in serving the actress.

The Logistics of Evading Service: Inactive Emails and Court Bailiffs

The necessity for the fresh ex parte application arose after repeated structural attempts by court officials to serve Dikeh with the original originating processes fell through. During the initial court proceedings on March 1, 2026, Justice Anenih had graciously granted an order permitting the applicant to serve the actress electronically via her widely known, public email addresses.

However, when the bailiff of the FCT High Court attempted to execute the electronic transmission, it was discovered that those specific digital channels had been systematically deactivated or rendered entirely inactive.

To ensure that the wheels of justice were not brought to a grinding halt by administrative evasion, counsel to the applicant, C.E. Okoro Esq., approached the bench with a fresh prayer, requesting alternative physical and digital means to legally bind the respondent to the suit.

In the fresh application, the legal team prayed the court for “an order granting leave to the Applicant to serve the Respondent with the originating process and all other subsequent court processes in this suit by substituted means.” The applicant specifically sought judicial permission to physically paste the legal documents on the front gates of Dikeh’s last known luxury residence or, alternatively, route the documents through a freshly verified backup email address.

Pasting Processes at Apo Legislative Quarters

Upon thoroughly reviewing the affidavit of non-service presented by the court bailiff, Justice Anenih granted the prayers in their entirety, stating firmly in the written ruling: “Order is hereby granted as prayed.” The comprehensive order, officially sealed under the authority of the court and signed by the Deputy Chief Registrar, Ojoma Okeme, authorized the legal team to execute service via two primary channels:

  1. Physical Pasting: Affixing all originating processes and accompanying court documents directly onto the entrance of Tonto Dikeh's last known physical address situated at No. 42, Nwafor A. Orizu Street, Zone 8, Apo Legislative Quarters, Abuja.

  2. Digital Alternative: Forwarding the legal processes to a newly uncovered, verified email account, [email protected].

Providing a live brief on the structural status of the case, Barrister Ikechukwu Obasi confirmed that the alternative enforcement order had been fully executed by the court’s administrative machinery.

"While attempting to effect service via those initially court-ordered emails, it turned out that they had become inactive," Obasi stated. "In order to ensure that the absolute justice of the case is done and that she is successfully served, we brought a fresh ex parte application seeking to serve the respondent, Tonto Dikeh, by pasting the processes at her last known residence. The bailiff of the court has officially confirmed that she has been physically served via pasting. We also transmitted the files to the newly verified email as an alternative safeguard."

Obasi emphasized that all legal avenues are being explored to ensure the actress cannot claim ignorance of the pending fundamental rights suit. With service now technically and legally perfected under Nigerian law, the actress is expected to file her formal defense ahead of the next calendar date. Justice Anenih has subsequently adjourned the matter to June 10, 2026, for a definitive hearing, setting the stage for a dramatic courtroom showdown in the nation's capital.