Court Remands Actress Doris Ogala Over Alleged Cyberstalking of Pastor

A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of Nollywood actress Doris Ogala at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of her bail application in a case involving allegations of cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion against Pastor Chris Okafor.

Justice Akintayo Aluko made the order on Wednesday after Ogala was arraigned on three counts filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The actress pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, told the court that the alleged offences occurred between September 2024 and March 2026.

He alleged that Ogala published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent, knowing that the publications could cause embarrassment, emotional distress and damage to the cleric’s reputation.

The prosecution further accused her of circulating videos, recordings and electronic messages containing information she allegedly knew to be false, with the intention of bullying, threatening, intimidating and harassing Okafor.

Mokolu also alleged that the actress threatened to continue publishing intimate and damaging material about the pastor unless he compensated her or bought her a house.

The prosecution said the alleged conduct contravened Sections 24(1)(a), 24(2)(a) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. The allegations have yet to be established in court.

Following the plea, the prosecutor asked the court to remand Ogala and schedule the matter for trial. He also informed the judge that he had only received the defendant’s bail application on Wednesday and required time to study it and file a response.

Defence counsel, N. C. Atulomah, opposed the remand request, arguing that the court had the discretion to grant bail. He urged the judge to release his client and assured the court that she would attend subsequent proceedings.

Atulomah also informed the court that Ogala was a governorship candidate of a political party in Abia State.

Mokolu opposed her immediate release, maintaining that the prosecution was still within the period allowed to respond to the bail application.

In his ruling, Justice Aluko held that the defence had not presented sufficient grounds to justify releasing the actress at that stage. He, however, directed that the bail application be heard expeditiously.

The judge adjourned the matter until October 30, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and ordered that Ogala remain in custody pending its determination.

The case follows earlier proceedings that were postponed because of Ogala’s absence from court on health grounds. In June, the court adjourned the planned arraignment after her defence cited medical reasons for her non-attendance.

The latest proceedings mark a further stage in the prosecution, which centres on allegations concerning the publication of private images, electronic communications and threats against the cleric.

Ogala’s plea of not guilty means the allegations remain subject to judicial determination. The court is expected to consider her bail application at the next sitting.