Actress Doris Ogala was remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Center on Wednesday by a Federal High Court in Lagos while her bail plea regarding alleged cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and attempted extortion of Pastor Chris Okafor was heard.
The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation brought Ogala before Judge Akintayo Aluko on three counts pertaining to threats against the cleric, the publication of private photos, and the distribution of purportedly fraudulent electronic messages.
The prosecuting attorney, Tolulope Mokolu, informed the court that the accused perpetrated the crimes between September 2024 and March 2026.
Mokolu claimed that Ogala deliberately and knowingly shared nude and private images of Okafor on her social media platforms without his permission.
The prosecution claimed that the publication could cause annoyance, embarrassment, emotional distress, and harm to the cleric’s reputation, stating that the images were later shared on social media blogs and platforms.
He alleged that Ogala deliberately released and shared videos, recordings, and electronic messages with information she purportedly recognized as false, aiming to bully, threaten, intimidate, and harass Okafor.
The prosecutor informed the court that the defendant purportedly sent electronic messages threatening to keep disseminating threatening and personal content about the cleric unless he provided her compensation or purchased her a house.
Mokolu claimed she supposedly issued the threats to harm Okafor’s reputation and subject him to mockery and public disgrace.
The prosecutor stated that the crimes violated Sections 24(1)(a), 24(2)(a), and 24(2)(c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.)
She, nevertheless, entered a not guilty plea to each of the charges as they were presented to her.
After her plea, prosecution attorney Mokolu requested the court to set a trial date and remand her until the case is resolved.
Mokolu additionally notified the court that he had received the defendant’s bail application only on Wednesday and required time to review it and submit a response.
Challenging the remand plea, defense attorney N. C. Atulomah contended that the authority to approve bail lay with the court’s discretion.
He requested the court to free the actress, noting that she was a gubernatorial candidate for a political party in Abia State, and promised to bring her to court for the next hearing.
The prosecutor challenged the defence’s request, contending that he remained within the timeframe permitted to reply to the bail application.
Justice Aluko determined that the defense did not provide enough evidence to warrant the defendant’s release.
The judge, nonetheless, mandated a speedy hearing of the bail request and postponed the issue until October 30, 2026, for consideration.
He also instructed that Ogala be held at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre until the bail application is heard and decided.
The hearing of Ogala’s bail application was postponed until October 30, 2026.
