Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has warned women against describing themselves as “second wife” when their partners have not legally dissolved their existing statutory marriages.
Edochie made the remark in an Instagram post on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, amid her ongoing dispute involving Judy Austin, the reported second wife of her nephew-in-law, Yul Edochie.
The actress argued that a man who is still legally married under statutory law cannot simply declare his marriage over and proceed to marry another woman under the same law.
According to her, separation, living apart, ending communication or having children with another woman does not automatically terminate an existing statutory marriage.
She also maintained that family acceptance or a grand wedding ceremony cannot erase a subsisting legal marriage.
Edochie wrote: “Stop calling yourself a second wife when the man hasn’t legally divorced his first wife. Your feelings, his promises and your ignorance of the law do not make an invalid marriage valid!”
She urged women in such relationships to establish the legal status of their partner’s previous marriage, instead of relying solely on verbal assurances.
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“A man telling you that my first wife is no longer my wife doesn’t make it a legal fact,” she added.
The actress further warned that where a statutory marriage remains subsisting, a subsequent statutory marriage may be legally invalid and could have legal consequences.
Edochie also addressed discussions about inheritance, cautioning against claims that a second woman automatically inherits nothing while the first wife automatically gets everything.
She explained that inheritance can depend on several factors, including the existence of a will, applicable laws, ownership of the property and the deceased’s children.
Her comments come amid the long-running controversy surrounding Yul Edochie, his first wife, May Edochie, and Judy Austin.
