Emeka Ugwuonye, the legal counsel to May Edochie in her ongoing divorce proceedings with Nollywood actor Yul Edochie, has officially withdrawn from the case, attributing his decision to persistent harassment from her fanbase.
The announcement was made through a public statement shared on the official Facebook page of Due Process Advocate (DPA), the legal organisation headed by Ugwuonye. According to him, the intensity of online abuse directed at his team particularly from a segment of May’s supporters known as ‘May Nation’ had created an unhealthy and hostile environment that made continued legal representation unsustainable.
“My staff face daily abuse from May’s supporters, having already endured similar attacks from Yul’s supporters,” Ugwuonye revealed. “Queen May’s inability to meaningfully influence this increasingly toxic faction of her supporters is incompatible with the level of investment required for our representation.”
He stressed that although May was the victim of what he described as betrayal and forced polygamy, the atmosphere created by a section of her fanbase had made it difficult to proceed professionally.
“DPA’s services to Queen May have come to an end,” the statement read. “The hostile environment fostered by certain individuals within the ‘May Nation’ group made it untenable for us to continue effective representation.”
Ugwuonye noted that while much of the public attention has focused on Yul Edochie and his alleged partner Judy Austin as the source of May’s ordeal, the cyberbullying his law firm experienced came primarily from May’s own supporters.
Despite stepping down, he maintained his respect for May as a person. “She is a remarkable individual who has endured profound emotional pain,” he said.
The Due Process Advocate further assured that it would fully cooperate with any new legal team appointed by May, stating, “DPA will work cooperatively with Queen May and her team to transition our work to any successor representatives she designates.”
The development has sparked fresh conversations online regarding the growing impact of toxic fan culture, especially in cases involving public figures navigating sensitive personal issues.
As of the time of filing this report, May Edochie is yet to release an official response to her lawyer’s withdrawal.
