The ongoing marital dispute between Nollywood stars Freddie Leonard and Peggy Ovire has taken a new turn after Leonard's lawyer, Barrister Rita Amy, made explosive claims in a viral video posted on X. Amy accused Peggy of deliberately stalling the divorce process, pointing out that her father has refused to return the bride price, a key requirement under traditional marriage customs before a union can be formally dissolved.
Lawyer's Accusations
In the video, Rita Amy delivered a series of sharp remarks, questioning Peggy's intentions. She stated, "Peggy, when Frederick's lawyer came to court, where was your lawyer? Nowhere to be found. You appeared in court without a lawyer. Why though, if I may ask?" She further added, "You do not want the divorce. See, tell yourself the truth. Come and beg, and maybe all of us will beg Frederick to reconsider."
Amy also dismissed rumors linking Leonard to his colleague Nkiru Umeh, popularly known as Angellikky. She stressed that the two have been friends since 2012 or 2013 and that allegations of infidelity were unfounded. "You know Frederick is not dating Nkiru. You know they've been friends since 2012, 2013. But your agenda must agend," she said.
Bride Price Dispute
The lawyer explained that Leonard's family asked Peggy's father to return the bride price, which is customary and legal. However, Peggy reportedly refused, insisting on going to court to collect the bride price. Amy argued, "There is no court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria that would force a man to stay married where he does not want to marry. No matter the propaganda you put up, I don't see it flying."
She urged Peggy to move on, saying, "If a man is cheating and you are no longer interested in the marriage, walk away. Return the bride price. Why are you dragging him? You accuse him of infidelity. Okay, yes, he cheated. Can you move on? You've won. Move on."
Background of the Crisis
Legit.ng earlier reported that Nigerians unearthed the identity of a lady seen with Leonard amid rumors of a crisis in his marriage. Peggy had leveled heavy allegations against the actor, claiming he is involved in an extramarital affair with a married woman with children. As proof, she posted a video of Frederick alongside a woman attending comedian Funnybone's recent comedy show in Lagos.
Further compounding her statements, she reshared a cryptic post from February 2026 questioning whether any woman could remain in a marriage where her husband maintains an affair with a married woman, noting that the individual was initially introduced as a "friend."
Social Media Reactions
Many Nigerians flooded the Instagram page of the lady identified as Angel Nikky, who turned off her comment section amid the drama. Social media users also dug up a 2018 post from Angellikky where she openly gushed over Leonard, comparing him to popular TV host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu. In the post, she wrote, "Errrr......Am I permitted to crush? I promise not to crash, Na who born these ones bikonu. Men them looking all shades of dapper #excesscharisma Should we start with the actor extraordinaire @freddieleonard looking like a man and half or we should start with the classic man @ebuka."
Netizens reacted to the saga with mixed opinions. User joychinedu40 said, "Thank God say you be woman May angleniik happened to you amen ?." Lucci_hairs commented, "Exactly. Return the bride price. It actually shows you are done. Divorce can take a longer process, but once dowry is returned, traditionally the marriage is over. The outburst from Peggy yesterday proved that she's still in love with him and not ready to let go." However, some criticized the lawyer's approach, with bennybaybey stating, "You have no right to come out and talk about this matter like that; you are his lawyer, not his mouthpiece. And even if you wanted to address it, be more professional."
Peggy Ovire Removes Husband's Name
Legit.ng previously reported that Peggy Ovire removed her husband's name from her Instagram profile, now bearing the name Peggy Ovire. Some netizens suggested that the actress might be too embarrassed to publicly admit that her marriage had ended.
