The ongoing marital dispute between Nollywood actors Frederick Leonard and Peggy Ovire has taken a new turn after Leonard’s lawyer, Barrister Rita Amy, publicly addressed the situation in a viral video.
Amy accused Peggy Ovire of deliberately delaying the divorce process and alleged that her father had refused to return the bride price, which she described as a traditional requirement for dissolving a customary marriage.
She also dismissed allegations linking Frederick Leonard to actress Nkiru Umeh, popularly known as Angellikky, insisting that the pair have been friends for many years and that claims of an affair were unfounded.
In the video, Rita Amy made several statements regarding the ongoing dispute.
According to her, Peggy appeared in court without legal representation when Frederick’s lawyer was present. She questioned why Peggy had allegedly failed to engage a lawyer if she was serious about the proceedings.
Amy further claimed that Frederick had requested the return of the bride price through customary channels but that Peggy insisted the matter should be resolved through the court process.
She stated that no court in Nigeria could compel a person to remain in a marriage against their will and argued that public allegations and social media campaigns would not change that reality.
Addressing the cheating allegations, Amy maintained that Peggy was aware that Frederick and Nkiru Umeh had been friends since around 2012 or 2013. She argued that if Peggy believed Frederick had been unfaithful and was dissatisfied with the marriage, she should allow the separation process to proceed.
Watch her speak below;
The development follows recent social media exchanges between the estranged couple.
Earlier, Peggy Ovire accused Frederick Leonard of having an affair with a married woman. She shared a video showing Leonard alongside Nkiru Umeh at comedian Funnybone’s comedy show in Lagos and suggested that the actress was involved in the breakdown of her marriage.
The allegations attracted significant attention online, prompting social media users to identify and scrutinize Nkiru Umeh. An old social media post from 2018 also resurfaced in which Nkiru openly praised Frederick Leonard, referring to him as an “actor extraordinaire” and commending his charisma and style.
