Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh, has been dragged before the court by a human rights lawyer over an alleged religious “exorcism” carried out on a female school pupil in Abuja.
The suit was filed by Ikechukwu Obasi at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory pursuant to the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.
Obasi is seeking several declarations and orders against the actress, including ₦200 million in damages for alleged violation of the child’s rights to dignity and privacy.
According to court documents, the case was instituted on behalf of a minor, a Junior Secondary School 1 student of Junior Secondary School, Durumi II, Abuja, who is originally from Rivers State.
In an affidavit attached to the originating motion, the lawyer alleged that the incident occurred on March 6, 2026, after he came across a viral video and photographs posted on the actress’ official Facebook page.
The footage reportedly showed the actress carrying out what the lawyer described as a religious exorcism on the schoolgirl.
Part of the affidavit reads:
“On 6th March, 2026, I stumbled upon a viral footage and photos on the official Facebook page of the Respondent, Tonto Dikeh, a Nollywood actress showing the Respondent carrying out a vicious religious exorcism on a female school child wherein the child was laid on bare ground while being pressed against the stony surface despite the Respondent wearing artificial finger nails; harassing, and publicly shaming the child.”
The lawyer argued that the alleged act constituted degrading treatment and exposed the child to public humiliation and possible psychological trauma.
He further contended that the publication of the video and images of the incident on social media violated the child’s right to privacy as guaranteed under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and provisions of the Child Rights Act 2003.
According to him, portraying the child as being demonically possessed could subject her to ridicule and discrimination among her peers.
Obasi maintained that such actions go beyond the lawful exercise of religious freedom and instead expose the child to stigma and social ridicule.
The lawyer is therefore asking the court to declare that the alleged deliverance ritual carried out by the actress amounts to a violation of the child’s fundamental right to dignity as guaranteed under Section 34 of the Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and the Child Rights Act.
He also urged the court to declare that any form of child exorcism or harmful religious rite carried out under the guise of spiritual deliverance violates the fundamental rights of children.
Among other reliefs, the lawyer asked the court to order the actress to remove the video and images from all her social media platforms and publish an unreserved apology to the child and Nigerian children in three national newspapers.
The suit also seeks a perpetual injunction restraining the actress from carrying out similar religious rites on any Nigerian child.
In addition, the lawyer is asking the court to award ₦200 million in damages against the actress, alleging that the child has been facing stigmatisation since the incident.
