Ikechukwu Obasi, a human rights lawyer, has filed a ₦200 million lawsuit against Nollywood actress and evangelist Tonto Dikeh over an alleged deliverance ritual carried out on a female schoolgirl in Abuja on March 6, 2026.
The case, filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, is a fundamental rights enforcement suit accusing Dikeh of violating the constitutional rights of the student during what the lawyer described as a “vicious religious deliverance ritual.”
The suit was brought under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 on behalf of a Junior Secondary School 1 student of JSS Durumi II in Abuja, who is originally from Rivers State. The legal action seeks ₦200 million in damages over alleged violations of the child’s rights to dignity and privacy.
What Reportedly Happened
According to the court filing, the incident took place on March 6, 2026, after a video and several photos posted on Dikeh’s Facebook page began circulating widely online. In the footage, the actress is seen speaking with the student before placing her hands on the girl and carrying out what appeared to be a deliverance session.
Dikeh reportedly said she felt spiritually prompted to intervene after sensing what she described as a “spirit of death” around the child.
In the video, the student was laid on the ground and pressed against a stony surface while the ritual was carried out. The clip quickly spread across social media and sparked strong reactions from members of the public.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/Uol5YxhRt_s
Legal Claims
In the affidavit supporting the suit, Obasi argued that the act amounted to degrading treatment and subjected the child to public embarrassment, possible stigma, and psychological distress.
According to the filing, the incident not only degraded the child but also exposed her to public ridicule and potential long term trauma.
The lawyer also claimed that posting the video and images online without proper consent violated the child’s right to privacy as protected under Section 37 of the 1999 Constitution and the Child Rights Act 2003. He further argued that portraying the student as being spiritually possessed could lead to discrimination or ridicule from her peers.
What the Lawsuit Seeks
In addition to the ₦200 million compensation, the lawsuit asks the court to declare that the alleged ritual violated the child’s constitutional right to dignity.
It also requests an order directing Dikeh to remove the video and photos from all her social media accounts and publish a public apology in three national newspapers.
Furthermore, the suit seeks a perpetual injunction preventing her from conducting similar religious deliverance sessions involving any Nigerian child in the future.
The filing also asks the court to declare that any form of child exorcism or harmful religious ritual carried out in the name of spiritual deliverance violates the fundamental rights of children in Nigeria.
As of the time of reporting, Tonto Dikeh has not publicly responded to the allegations. The case is expected to attract significant public attention because of the actress’s high profile and the sensitive nature of the claims involving a minor.
