Tonto Dikeh Faces ₦200 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Exorcism of Schoolgirl

Tonto Dikeh Faces ₦200 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Exorcism of Schoolgirl

Popular Nollywood actress and philanthropist Tonto Dikeh is facing a ₦200 million lawsuit filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, over allegations of conducting a religious exorcism on a minor. The case has sparked national debate about child rights, social media conduct, and the limits of celebrity influence in Nigeria.

The lawsuit was filed by human rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi on behalf of a Junior Secondary School 1 student of Junior Secondary School, Durumi II, Abuja, who hails from Rivers State. The suit was filed under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and seeks damages, declarations, and court orders to protect the child’s rights to dignity, privacy, and protection from degrading treatment.

According to the affidavit attached to the court filing, the alleged incident took place on March 6, 2026, after Obasi came across a viral video and photographs posted on Tonto Dikeh’s official Facebook page. In the visuals, Dikeh was seen performing what the lawyer described as a “vicious religious exorcism”, during which the minor was laid on bare ground and pressed against a stony surface, exposing her to public humiliation and potential psychological trauma. The affidavit notes that the actress was wearing artificial fingernails during the ritual.

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“The actions of the Respondent did not just constitute degrading treatment of the schoolchild but exposed her to contempt, public shame, and likely unspoken child trauma,” the affidavit states. Obasi also argued that the unauthorized publication of images and video footage on social media violated the child’s right to privacy, guaranteed under Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution and the Child Rights Act 2003.

The lawsuit seeks the following remedies:

• ₦200 million in damages for violation of the child’s rights;
• An injunction preventing Tonto Dikeh from performing similar acts on minors;
• A court order compelling the actress to remove all related videos and images from social media;
• Publication of a public apology in three national newspapers.

Legal analysts say the case raises important questions about child protection, social media ethics, and religious practices, particularly when minors are involved. The matter has attracted significant public attention, with debates over whether celebrities should be held accountable for content they share online that affects children.

As of now, Tonto Dikeh has not issued a public response to the lawsuit or the allegations contained in the court filings. The High Court has yet to schedule a hearing date, but the outcome is expected to set a precedent regarding social media conduct, religious rituals, and children’s rights in Nigeria.

Tonto Dikeh Faces ₦200 Million Lawsuit Over Alleged Exorcism of Schoolgirl