Nollywood actress and self‑styled evangelist Tonto Dikeh has been sued in Abuja after a video of her performing a religious “deliverance” on a schoolgirl went viral online.
The lawsuit was filed at the Federal Capital Territory High Court by human rights lawyer Ikechukwu Obasi on behalf of a Junior Secondary School 1 pupil from Durumi II, Abuja, originally from Rivers State.
Obasi alleges that during a visit to the school, Dikeh conducted what he described as a harmful religious ritual on the young student, which was captured in a video that later spread widely on social media.
According to the suit, sharing the footage without the girl’s consent violated her privacy rights under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Child Rights Act 2003. The lawyer also contends that the incident subjected the child to public humiliation and a breach of her dignity.
The legal action seeks approximately $145,750 (around ₦200 million) in damages, a public apology, and an order for the removal of the footage from all social platforms. Obasi has also asked the court to declare the act a violation of the girl’s constitutional rights.
Dikeh had posted the video days earlier showing her laying hands on the student and praying during the deliverance session, drawing widespread attention and controversy online.
As of the latest reports, the lawsuit has been filed but no hearing date has been announced, and Tonto Dikeh has not publicly responded to the case.
