A throwback picture linking Judy Austin's family to Yul Edochie has gone viral, sparking fresh controversy. The actress had boldly stated that she first met the filmmaker in 2016, but the resurfaced photo suggests otherwise.
Viral Photo Raises Questions
The image, shared on Facebook in March 2012, shows Judy Austin's elder sister, Augusta C. Augustine, with Yul Edochie. This contradicts Judy's claim that she met Yul for the first time in 2016 on a movie set. The photo has left many internet users questioning the timeline.
Judy Austin's Statement
In a lengthy Instagram video, Judy Austin maintained that she met Yul three years after her marriage to Emmanuel Obasi ended. She stated that she left Obasi in 2012 and their marriage was dissolved in March 2013. She also noted that actor Sylvester Madu encouraged her to start acting that same year.
However, the old photo of her sister with Yul Edochie, dated March 2012, has fueled doubts. Judy Austin dismissed accusations that Yul caused her marriage breakdown, warning bloggers and her ex-husband that the matter will be settled in court.
Addressing Custody Claims
Judy Austin also addressed Obasi's claims about their children. She said she never restricted his access to the children, revealing that they stayed with her parents for five years before moving to Enugu in 2018. She recalled an incident when she gave her reluctant children the phone to speak to their father, after which he disappeared for six months.
"For the records, I never for once restricted access to this man. I've never restricted access for him to see his kids. My children spent 5 years with my parents before I moved them to Enugu in 2018. The man will visit them once every year to come and showcase his child with his new wife, to show my parents that he's living the life and I'm suffering," she said.
She advised Obasi to get a lawyer and arrange formal visitation rights through a court, a step she claimed he had yet to take to avoid financial responsibility.
Defending Yul Edochie
Judy Austin fiercely defended Yul Edochie against backlash, praising him for stepping up as a provider when their biological father was absent. "Please stop insulting Yul Edochie. Stop destroying his name for being good. Instead, you thank him for assisting me in taking care of these kids. That's the only crime he ever committed. He has helped me to be a father figure in their lives, put a roof over their heads, pay their school fees, feed them," she said.
She reiterated that Obasi has never pursued legal custody or provided maintenance evidence, urging the public to stop attacking Yul for his kindness.
Obasi's Claims
Earlier, Emmanuel Obasi claimed he played a major role in supporting Judy Austin's education before her rise to fame. He said he sponsored her key examinations and bought her first mobile phone, and his financial support extended to one of her cousins.
