Controversial Nollywood actor Yul Edochie has broken his silence over allegations levelled against him by Emmanuel Obasi, the ex-husband of his wife, Judy Austin. In a statement posted on his X page on Friday, the 44-year-old denied preventing Obasi from seeing his children.
Allegations and Denial
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Obasi, in several videos and interviews, accused Yul of having an affair with Austin before their separation and blocking him from accessing the two children he shares with her. Responding, Yul said: “Some of my fans have reached out to me, saying, ‘pls allow him to see his children’. I have never stopped anybody from seeing their children. In this era of social media, people prefer chasing clout and chasing social media money with my name, rather than doing the right thing.”
Yul's Stance on the Matter
The Anambra-born actor stressed that he plays no role in the arrangement between Obasi and Austin. “Tell him to call his ex-wife; if he wants to see or take his children, let them discuss it. He has her number. It has nothing to do with me,” said the alumnus of the University of Port Harcourt.
Austin's Previous Response
This newspaper earlier reported that Austin, in a video posted on her Instagram page, maintained that she had never restricted Obasi’s access to see his kids. She added that someone had paid him to grant interviews to tarnish her and Yul’s names. She claimed Yul had been taking full responsibility for his two children since she and Obasi separated.
“At what point did I restrict access from this man? He called me on the phone in 2018. And I gave my children the phone even though they didn’t want to talk to him. I said ‘no, even though he doesn’t pay your bills, he’s still your biological dad. I consider them (the children) first in every decision I make. Get a lawyer; let’s go to court and legalise this so the judge will mandate when you can visit your kids.
“That was the last time Emmanuel Obasi ever called me till today. He has never called me on the phone again, not even once till today. He has come on social media, lied, and destroyed. There is nothing he hasn’t done with my name. And because the people that brought him, the people that are paying him to do this, they need him to destroy my name and that of Yul Edochie, included,” Austin stated.
Background of the Relationship
In 2022, this newspaper reported that Yul unveiled Austin as his second wife amid a divorce case with his estranged wife, May. Before then, Austin had produced and played the lead role in the cinema film Native Girl, in which she portrayed Yul’s timid wife, an international businessman. The couple now have three children together, two boys and a girl.
