Doris Ogala Remanded in Kirikiri as Court Fixes October 30 for Bail Hearing
Kehinde Adeleye
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of actress Doris Ogala at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of her bail application over alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion of Pastor Chris Okafor.
Ogala was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Akintayo Aluko on three counts filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation. The charges relate to the alleged publication of intimate photographs, dissemination of electronic messages said to be false, and threats against the cleric.
Prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, told the court that the alleged offences occurred between September 2024 and March 2026.
Mokolu alleged that Ogala knowingly published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent. He said the publication was capable of causing embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage to the cleric, adding that the images were subsequently circulated on social media platforms and blogs.
The prosecution also accused the actress of publishing and distributing videos, recordings and electronic messages containing information she allegedly knew to be false, with the intention of bullying, threatening, intimidating and harassing Okafor.
Mokolu further alleged that Ogala threatened to continue publishing menacing and intimate material about the cleric unless he compensated her or bought her a house.
According to the prosecution, the alleged threats were intended to damage Okafor’s reputation and expose him to public ridicule.
The charges were brought under Sections 24(1)(a), 24(2)(a) and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Ogala, however, pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Following her plea, Mokolu asked the court to adjourn the matter for trial and remand the defendant. He also told the court that he had received the actress’s bail application on Wednesday and needed time to study it and file a response.
Defence counsel, N. C. Atulomah, opposed the remand request, arguing that the decision to grant bail rested within the court’s discretion. He urged the judge to release Ogala and said she would be produced in court at the next hearing.
Atulomah also told the court that the actress was a governorship candidate of a political party in Abia State.
The prosecution opposed the request, maintaining that it 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 material to justify Ogala’s release at that stage. He nevertheless ordered an accelerated hearing of the bail application.
The judge adjourned the matter until October 30, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application and directed that Ogala remain at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending its determination.
