Actress Doris Ogala Sent To Prisons Over Alleged Defamation of Pastor Okafor

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The protracted dispute between Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, took a dramatic turn on Wednesday, October 28, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) arraigned her before a Federal High Court, Lagos, on alleged cyber-stalking, cyberbullying, harassment, dissemination of false information and attempted extortion charges.

The actress was arraigned before Justice Akintayo Aluko on three-count charges.

Ogala was alleged to have at different times published, transmitted, and disseminated on her social media platforms, video recordings, and electronic messages containing false information against Pastor Okafor.

She was also alleged to have bullied, threatened, intimidated, and harassed Pastor Okafor.

Charges against the actress read: “That you, Doris Ogala, female, 34 years, sometimes between September 24, 2024 to March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did knowingly and intentionally publish on your social media handles nude and intimate photograph of one Pastor Chris Okafor, without his consent, which you knew would cause annoyance, embarrassment, emotional distress, and injury to his reputation and which said images were subsequently disseminated across various social media blogs and platforms, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 24 (1)(a) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, Amendment Act 2024.

“That you, Doris Ogala, female, 34 years, sometimes between September 24 to March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did intentionally publish and caused to be disseminated to computer system and network several videos, recordings and electronic messages containing information you knew to be false and which were calculated to bully, threat, intimidate and harass one Pastor Chris Okafor and which said electronic publications were subsequently disseminated across various online blogs and social media platform, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 24(2) (a) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, Amendment Act 2024.

“Doris Ogala, female, 34 years, sometimes between September 24 to March 2026, within the jurisdiction of this honorable court, transmitted electronic communications and information through your social media account against one Pastor Chris Okafor with intent to extort property, knowingly threatening to continue publishing menacing and intimate intimate material against the said Pastor Chris Okafor, unless he either compensates you or buys you a house, with intent to harm his reputation, cause police threat, ridicule and opprobrium, thereby committing an offence contrary to section 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes Prohibition, Prevention, Amendment Act 2024.”

At the arraignment of the actress, Tolulope Mokolu announced his appearance for the prosecution, while N. C. Atulomah appears for the defendant.

Upon reading the charge to the defendant, she denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Based on her plea, the prosecutor asked the court for a trial date, as well as prayed the court to remand that defendant pending the determination of the charge.

The prosecutor also informed the court that he was being served with the defendant’s bail application today, and he needs time to study it and respond to the same accordingly.

But, the defendant informed the court that he opposed the remand application made by the prosecutor, saying that granting bail is at court’s discretion.

He also prayed the court to release the defendant, whom he said is a governorship candidate of a political party in Abia state. While undertaking to produce her at the next hearing of the matter.

However, the prosecutor vehemently opposed the counsel’s request that the defendant be released to him, saying that he is still within time to respond to the bail application.

Ruling on the submissions of counsel, Justice Aluko ruled that the defence has not put any material before the court to grant its request.

The judge, however, ruled that he would order accelerated hearing of the bail application.

Justice Aluko thereafter adjourned the matter to October 30 for hearing of the bail application. While ordered that the defendant be remanded pending hearing and determination of the bail application.

The case, it would be recalled, attracted considerable attention months back, particularly because of her explosive allegations, which Pastor Chris denied.

Their disagreement reportedly escalated after the handsome pastor announced plans to marry another woman. This triggered a bitter public fallout that spilt onto social media.

In the course of the dispute, Ogala made several serious allegations against the cleric, claiming that their relationship had caused her considerable emotional distress.

Okafor, however, disputed her claims and, through his legal representatives, accused her of making false and malicious statements capable of damaging his reputation.

Unwilling to let the allegations go unchallenged, the pastor took the matter to court, setting the stage for a legal battle over the claims made against him.

A video circulating online showed Ogala making further allegations against other men of God shortly before she was taken to the correctional facility, adding another layer of controversy to an already sensational case.

The development marks a significant escalation in a dispute that has moved beyond social media exchanges into the courtroom – with all eyes on Ogala for proof.