DPA Family Law Clinic

WE WERE JUST THREATENED
(Just read to the end)

One of the mistakes people who follow the dispute between May and Yul make is to say that May is silent. I often wonder what people mean by that.

May is not silent. She is quite active, even on social media. She coordinates May Nation and is its driving force. She is far more involved than many people imagine. In my experience, very little happens within or around May Nation without her knowledge or approval. If members decide to target someone with coordinated attacks, she will either allow it to continue or stop it if she chooses. She does not have to make public posts herself to exercise influence on May Nation members. DPA worked for her for three years, so we are familiar with how she operates.

If something appears on social media that May does not like, she has several people she can call to have it addressed. She could also call DPA and ask us to intervene. If the request was legitimate (for example, stopping someone from using her name or image without permission) we would act on it. If it involved something outside our professional or ethical boundaries, she had other people she could contact. Does that sound like someone who is silent?

May is a hands-on person. She is involved even in the smallest details and pays close attention to what is happening around her. At no point have we seen her as uninvolved. Let us illustrate.

If someone insults May in a private WhatsApp chat, it often does not remain private for long. Before you know it, many of her supporters are mobilized against that person. How did they know about the conversation? Information moves quickly: from May to trusted individuals, from them to selected and paid bloggers, and then throughout May Nation. Within a short time, one person may find themselves facing coordinated attacks from thousands of her supporters. If May were truly silent, how would that level of coordination occur?

Nor should she be silent. No one with a case of this magnitude should remain silent. The problem is not that she communicates; it is the public narrative and pretense that she does not. There is a difference.

Silence itself can also be a powerful form of communication. Sometimes silence says more than words. Intelligent people understand that silence can be deliberate and strategic. It can signal approval, disapproval, indifference, or calculation. In many situations, silence speaks louder than a microphone.

THEN, THE USE OF FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS

A more troubling issue arose when we at DPA began to suspect that some anonymous Facebook and Instagram accounts attacking Judy and her children, and later attacking DPA, were not operating independently of May. We had reasons to believe that May was at least aware of, and probably connected to, some of those coordinated inauthentic activities. Had we believed those attacks were merely the actions of strangers acting entirely on their own, we would not have resigned because of someone else's conduct. Our concern was that there appeared to be knowledge of, or encouragement for, accounts such as the "Judith Obasi Autism", which repeatedly targeted and defamed both Judy and DPA. We believe that May and Danielle, her daughter, run that account and many others.

NOW THE LATEST THREAT.

One of May's bloggers and online supporters, known as Football Mail (also called Oil and Gas) neither of which is his real name, sent DPA a threatening message / post. He threatened that if we ever mentioned May again, he would mount a coordinated attack on our financial infrastructure.

We know about that person's past criminal activities even within May Nation. May knows also because we formally briefed her with information that one of her right-hand men was engaged in fraudulent and online scamning activities. We actually sought her permission to have him arrested exactly this time last year. It seems she is still working with him. It is possible he issued the present threat on May's instructions. It is equally possible that he was simply trying to impress her by making the threat. Either way, we are not intimidated.

If any coordinated attack is launched against our financial accounts following such threats, we will consider all available legal options, including examining whether anyone who authorized, encouraged, directed, or ratified such conduct may bear legal responsibility under established principles of agency or vicarious liability. Any competent lawyer understands those legal doctrines. Personally, I believe the threat is empty, but we are fully prepared to respond if necessary.

So, is that what people call silence?

The truth is simple: May has never been silent. She does not need to be. She simply communicates through channels that many people do not see.

NOTE: Attached is the threat in question. Also attached is a public apology that same individual issued last year (purpotedly to DPA InternationalFoundation) in a bid to stop us from having him arrested.

A SEVEN-PART ECULAW LECTURE SERIES ON MARRIAGE, DISSOLUTION, AND SUCCESSION UNDER NIGERIAN LAW

Lecture I of VII
SEPARATION IS NOT DIVORCE; COHABITATION IS NOT MARRIAGE
SEPARATION DOES NOT DISSOLVE A MARRIAGE
By DPA Family Law Clinic

HYPOTHETICAL CASE: THE LONG SILENCE
Bayo and Florence Adekunle married at the Ikoyi Registry in 1998. By 2008, the marriage had quietly died at home: separate rooms, separate finances, no further attempt at reconciliation. Neither filed for divorce. Bayo eventually relocated to Uyo for work and, in 2015, began living with Mariam, who bore him two children and was introduced at family events as “Mrs. Adekunle.” When Bayo died intestate in 2025, Mariam petitioned the probate registry for Letters of Administration, describing herself as his wife of ten years. Florence, who had not seen Bayo in person for over a decade, came forward to assert that she remained the only legal spouse and the only person entitled to administer the estate.

THE GOVERNING PRINCIPLE

Nigerian law treats marriage as a status conferred by ceremony and removed only by death or judicial decree, never by the mere passage of time or private arrangement. Section 15 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, Cap. M7, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, vests in the court alone the power to dissolve a statutory marriage, and only on proof that it has broken down irretrievably. That proof must be presented to a judge through a formal petition, resulting first in a decree nisi and, after the statutory waiting period, a decree absolute. Nothing short of that decree absolute terminates the marital bond.

It is worth distinguishing dissolution from judicial separation, a lesser-known relief under sections 39 and 41 of the Act. A decree of judicial separation, sought on the same statutory grounds as divorce, releases a spouse from the duty to cohabit. It does not, however, dissolve the marriage or alter the parties’ status, rights, or obligations toward one another. Even a spouse who has lawfully obtained a decree of judicial separation remains married, and remains barred from remarrying, until a separate decree of dissolution is granted. If a judicial order falling short of dissolution cannot end a marriage, informal separation without any court order at all certainly cannot.

APPLYING THE PRINCIPLE

On these facts, Florence’s marriage to Bayo never ended in law. The decade of physical and emotional distance between them is socially significant but legally inert. No petition was ever filed; no decree nisi or absolute was ever issued. Florence therefore remains Bayo’s lawful wife at the date of his death, with the priority right to apply for Letters of Administration and to take the statutory spousal share of the estate.

Mariam’s position, however sympathetic, rests entirely on cohabitation and social recognition, neither of which Nigerian statutory law treats as a substitute for marriage. However long she lived with Bayo, however she was introduced to relatives, and however many children she bore him, she acquired no spousal status and therefore no standing to administer his estate as a wife. Her children’s separate inheritance rights are a distinct question, addressed later in this series.

This is not a uniquely Nigerian misunderstanding, but it is an especially costly one in a country where many couples separate informally and never return to court. A spouse who remarries socially, acquires property, or builds a new family during years of separation does so on the assumption that distance has done the work of a decree. It has not, and the consequences typically surface only at death or in a custody dispute, when reversing course is no longer possible.

THE LESSON

Time does not divorce anyone. Only a court does. Anyone relying on separation, distance, or an unspoken understanding to treat a prior marriage as over is building on a foundation the law does not recognise.

“Time does not divorce anyone. Only a court does.”

Questions for Reflection:

Why does Nigerian law require a judicial decree, rather than the conduct or beliefs of the parties, to terminate a statutory marriage?

How does judicial separation differ in legal effect from dissolution of marriage, and why might a spouse choose one relief over the other?

What documentary evidence should a probate registry require before granting Letters of Administration to a person claiming to be a “wife” of many years’ standing?

DISCLAIMER: This article is published for public information and legal education purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. The views expressed are those of the author and do not represent the position of any government or institution.

Law. Rights. Accountability.

© 2026 Eculaw Group. All rights reserved.

TO YUL AND JUDY: HOW TO BUILD A SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM STRATEGY

I have been involved in the controversy surrounding the Edochie family for the past four years. During that time, I have carefully observed how the various parties have confronted one another and the strategies they have adopted.

In my assessment, May's approach has relied largely on methods that are fundamentally unsustainable. At first, she depended on a social media mob that employed bullying, intimidation, insults, and harassment to advance her cause. She once described her mob as "my online gamily" which gives you "gas-ghos if you appear not sensitive" enough. (This is still so to a lesser extent). More recently, the strategy has evolved into what appears to be a coordinated network of bloggers who publish damaging stories, rumors, and abusive content.

Yul and Judy, on the other hand, have never developed a clearly defined engagement strategy. Instead, they have relied largely on volunteers, supporters who defend them on social media of their own initiative. While May actively directs and coordinates her supporters, Yul and Judy have depended almost entirely on spontaneous goodwill.

Neither approach offers a sustainable long-term solution.

THE PROBLEM WITH MOB-BASED CAMPAIGNS

When May initially relied on a large online mob to insult and intimidate people, it appeared effective. The more her supporters shouted derogatory names such as "Akpa Amu," "preek warrior," or "juju ekwensu" at Judy and Yul, the more it seemed that her side was winning.

But appearances can be deceptive.

The problem with this strategy is that it inevitably creates an equal and opposite reaction.

Once Judy is attacked beyond a certain point, sympathetic supporters naturally emerge to defend her. In doing so, they often begin attacking May in return, calling her names such as "Street Queen" and other offensive labels.

At that stage, May becomes upset and expects DPA to identify those responsible and stop them.

That was one of the developments that eventually led to the arrest of Uncle Baba and countless other interventions and cease and desist demand from DPA.

The reality is simple: maintaining this pattern requires enormous financial and professional resources. Every abusive campaign eventually generates retaliatory attacks. Every retaliatory attack then requires investigations, legal complaints, police involvement, and court proceedings.

How many people can you realistically sue?

How many people can you have arrested?

How many court cases can you sustain over several years?

The answer is obvious. It is not sustainable.

THE ONLY SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

The only practical way to reduce attacks against yourself is to reduce the hostility you generate against others.

In other words, stop provoking the opposing side.

At first glance, restraint may appear to be weakness. In reality, it is often the strongest long-term strategy available.

This was precisely why DPA consistently tried to discourage members of May Nation from attacking Yul and Judy.

I understood that if attacks against Yul and Judy stopped, most of their supporters would also stop responding. Their supporters generally displayed greater restraint and were less inclined to continue attacking people without provocation.

Unfortunately, May never embraced this long-term strategic thinking.

Instead, she appeared to enjoy the immediate emotional satisfaction that came from seeing Judy and Yul insulted each day.

For DPA, however, there was never going to be an end to that cycle.

THE BLO BLOGGER STRATEGY FACES THE SAME PROBLEM

Today, the strategy has changed, but the underlying problem remains.

Instead of relying solely on ordinary supporters, the campaign now appears to depend increasingly on a coordinated network of bloggers who are being paid regularly.

But what do these bloggers actually do?

Essentially the same thing.

They publish damaging stories, spread rumors, and amplify abusive narratives directed at Judy and Yul.

Maintaining such a network requires continuous financial support.

How long can that continue?

Eventually, resources become exhausted, priorities change, or supporters lose interest. No strategy built primarily on financing conflict can continue indefinitely.

THE FIVE YEARS AHEAD:

The weakness of these methods is that they produce only temporary victories.

They create excitement today while doing very little to strengthen one's position five or ten years from now.

A better strategy would have been to focus energy on concluding the divorce proceedings as quickly and efficiently as possible while simultaneously building a strong personal brand and avoiding unnecessary public conflicts.

Unfortunately, the immediate satisfaction of seeing Judy and Yul mocked appears to have been considered more rewarding than pursuing lasting solutions.

YUL AND JUDY'S PASSIVE APPROACH:

Yul and Judy adopted the opposite extreme.

Rather than organizing a clear strategy, they largely relied on patience, hoping the attacks would eventually disappear on their own.

Unfortunately, organized online campaigns rarely disappear simply because their targets remain silent.

Such campaigns usually continue for as long as funding, coordination, and motivation remain available.

One of May Nation's greatest achievements has been its ability to cultivate a community of emotionally committed donors who continue contributing resources that sustain these campaigns.

WHY YUL AND JUDY SHOULD NOT COPY THAT MODEL

Yul and Judy should not attempt to imitate May's methods.

First, many of their supporters simply do not have the temperament for sustained online abuse and harassment.

Some certainly fought aggressively in the past—including many who harshly attacked me when I supported May—but, overall, their support base consists of a different type of audience.

That difference should be viewed as an advantage rather than a weakness.

A BETTER ALTERNATIVE: BUILD A GENUINE FAC COMMUNITY

Instead of organizing people to attack opponents, Yul and Judy should organize supporters around something positive.

They should establish a properly structured Yul & Judy Fan Club.

It should have leadership, membership, regular engagement, and organized communication.

The purpose would not be to fight anyone.

Its purpose would be to bring supporters together, share positive news, celebrate achievements, encourage members, and build a genuine community around shared admiration.

Such an organization would naturally become a reliable support network capable of correcting misinformation whenever necessary, without becoming an abusive mob.

THE FUTURE IS ALREADY VISIBLE

It is increasingly clear that Yul and Judy have far more supporters than they themselves realize.

More importantly, time appears to favor their position.

Whatever one thinks about the past, the practical reality is that, eventually, the marriage between Yul and May is likely to be legally resolved, while Yul and Judy intend to continue their lives together.

If that is indeed how events unfold, public acceptance will gradually adjust to that reality.

Their supporters should therefore focus on preparing for that future rather than fighting endless social media wars over the past.

BUILD AROUND HOPE, NOT BITTERNESS

Unlike May Nation, a Yul & Judy Fan Club should never be built around anger, resentment, or hostility toward another person.

It should exist to celebrate its members, strengthen friendships among supporters, provide accurate information, and promote positive engagement.

A community built on bitterness eventually destroys itself.

A community built on hope, loyalty, and shared purpose can endure for many years.

That is the difference between winning today's social media battle and building a sustainable movement for tomorrow.

NO EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE SOCIAL MEDIA STORY ON ALEXX EKUBO'S FAMILY

As we normally do before publishing any story, we conducted a veracity and integrity research on the story on social media about the family of Okubo. We do not publish any story without rigorous research. The following is what we got when we researched on the Okubo story:
----------

Based on currently available public information, the core claim cannot be independently verified. Here's what can be said:

An Instagram blogger, Cutie Juls, publicly claimed that people connected to Alexx Ekubo's family approached the blog to publish damaging allegations against Alexx's wife and other people close to him. The blogger said the allegations were investigated but rejected because there was insufficient credible evidence, and claimed to have preserved records of those conversations. �

Legit.ng - Nigeria news. +1
Reports that Ini Edo and Bimbo Ademoye reacted are accurate in a limited sense. They publicly expressed support for the blogger's decision not to publish unverified allegations. Their reactions do not independently confirm that any conspiracy or plot actually existed. �

Legit.ng - Nigeria news.
At present, there is no independent evidence—such as documents, recordings, or official statements—that verifies:

that specific members of Alexx Ekubo's family organized such a campaign;

that there was a coordinated effort against his wife; or

that the blogger's account is factually correct.

Likewise, there has been no public response from Alexx Ekubo's immediate family or his representatives addressing the blogger's allegations. �
Legit.ng - Nigeria news.

NOTE:
DPA will not be making any post on the case at the present time.

YES, OUR INFORMATION WAS GOOD

You can see an affirmation of how May Nation members are guiding Obasi. They told him not to make more videos because they can see that Judy is now a member of DPA, which means that DPA is now tracking Obasi. They told him to stop implicating himself. He is only allowed to speak in Igbo on social media. They gave Obasi strict warning to speak only in Igbo henceforth before he would put himself in trouble unknowingly.

Obasi is not happy that they are telling him to shut up. So, he plans to leave the plan May Nation drew for him. He wants to go spiritual, which giving opinion is the user of the fake account defaming me on Facebook. She didnt know we know her real account and her communications with other May Nation Members.

DPA IS FULLY AWARE OF ONIKA BELLA

Onika Bella, alias FBI 2, is finished. We are establishing her connection with other May Nation and to May herself.

May is actually driving May Nation now. She has thrown away every pretences at not being part of them. We just pity her. We don't know when she will finally get commonsense and realize that she is hurting herself and people around her so badly. She uses Judith Obasi Autism and now she is using Bella Oniks.

I warned May against any direct interaction with Obasi. I warned her that Obasi could damage her cause. But May doesn't listen to advice. She is putting everybody in trouble- her daughter, her siblings, her friends. I hope she really considers the consequences of her actions and omissions. And she should stop underestimating people.

Emeka Ugwuonye, Founder and CEO, DPA International.

MAY NATION MEMBERS TRY TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM OBASI

Senior members of May Nation, particularly those in the Diaspora branch, reportedly held a WhatsApp meeting last night to discuss the Obasi situation. According to information reaching us, many blamed themselves for failing to recognize that he was a ticking time bomb that would eventually explode in their own hands. Some openly questioned why he had been allowed to travel to Abakaliki to meet the "Queen of England."

There is now deep regret within the group over the entire Obasi episode. Much of the blame is reportedly being directed at Rita, who was effectively acting as his handler. Many believe she should have exercised better judgment and prevented the series of mistakes that have now damaged their cause.

The meeting reportedly ended with a resolution that Obasi should stay away from social media for the time being while efforts are made to contain the fallout from his recent activities.

If these reports are accurate, May Nation appears to be in crisis-management mode. The Obasi affair has become a major setback, and many within the group now seem eager to distance themselves from him. His financial support has reportedly dried up, the campaign built around him has lost momentum, and many of his former supporters no longer want to be publicly associated with him.

That said, they may need to tread carefully. If Obasi feels abandoned or betrayed, he could decide to reveal private conversations or plans allegedly discussed behind the scenes. For that reason alone, some may conclude that completely cutting ties with him carries its own risks.