Nollywood actress Queeneth Hilbert has filed a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking protection from arrest and prosecution by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). She alleges that police officers attempted to detain her on 8 March at the instigation of fellow actress Destiny Etiko, violating her fundamental rights.
The legal dispute stems from a now-deleted video on Ms Hilbert’s Instagram page, in which she accused Ms Etiko of snatching her wealthy boyfriend and other benefactors who allegedly finance the extravagant lifestyles of some Nollywood actresses. Ms Hilbert claims the police’s involvement in the matter is an abuse of power and an infringement on her constitutional rights.
In response to these allegations, Ms Etiko, 35, through her legal representatives, Nwabundo Associates, issued a cease-and-desist letter demanding that Ms Hilbert retract her statements within 48 hours. The legal team also requested a public apology and N100 million in damages, citing reputational harm.
Court documents obtained by Premium Times reveal that Ms Hilbert’s suit, marked FHC/L/CS/453/25, names the IGP as the first respondent and Ms Etiko as the second respondent. She seeks a court declaration that the police’s actions violate Sections 34, 35, 39, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of expression, and movement.
Ms Hilbert also demands N100 million in damages for the alleged harassment and restrictions placed on her movement. Additionally, she seeks a perpetual injunction preventing the police from arresting, interrogating, or detaining her over her Instagram statements. She further claims that an armed police invasion of her Asaba residence was a gross violation of her rights.
“The police must be restrained from using their powers to intimidate me over a personal dispute,” Ms Hilbert stated in her suit. “An order of perpetual injunction is necessary to prevent further harassment and ensure my safety.”
The feud between the two actresses dates back to 2020 when Ms Hilbert accused Ms Etiko of interfering in her romantic relationships. She alleges that Ms Etiko first disrupted her engagement to Tony Ujiagbedion and later became involved with her recent partner, Izuchukwu Callistus, after he lent N15 million to Ms Etiko.
Ms Hilbert further claims that Ms Etiko conspired with Instagram blogger Ajemba Stanlelabellingze to label her a “drug addict,” leading to the loss of lucrative endorsement deals. She asserts that this public defamation severely damaged her career.
The conflict escalated on 8 March, the same day Ms Hilbert received Ms Etiko’s cease-and-desist letter. She alleges that a police officer, Superintendent Paul, summoned her to Abuja for questioning over allegations of cyberbullying. That night, she claims, armed officers arrived at her residence to arrest her, but she avoided them by staying at a neighbor’s house.
Ms Hilbert’s lawyer, Ebinimi Beredugo, has condemned the police’s actions as unlawful and politically motivated, urging the court to intervene. The case is set to be heard at the Federal High Court in Lagos, though a date has yet to be scheduled.
