The arraignment of actress Doris Ogala over alleged cybercrime offences involving cleric Pastor Chris Okafor was stalled again on Tuesday after she failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Lagos for the second consecutive time.
Ogala is facing charges under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024. The Federal Government accuses her of cyberstalking, cyberbullying, disseminating false information and attempted extortion.
At the proceedings before Justice Akintayo Aluko, defence counsel N.C. Atulomah asked for an adjournment, informing the court that his client was receiving treatment at a Federal Medical Centre. He assured the court that she would attend the next hearing.
Prosecuting counsel Tolulope Mokolu, however, questioned the explanation, noting that the medical report before the court showed that Ogala had already been discharged and was receiving outpatient care. He also pointed out that she had recently taken part in a political party primary election.
“I am reluctantly acceding to the counsel’s plea for adjournment,” Mokolu said, adding that he would seek a bench warrant for her arrest if she fails to appear at the next hearing.
Justice Aluko subsequently granted the adjournment.
The case is yet to proceed to arraignment and the allegations remain unproven as Ogala has not entered a plea.
The Federal Government filed a four count charge against the actress following a review of a police investigation by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions of the Federation. Court documents allege that between September 2024 and March 2026, she published private materials relating to Okafor without his consent, circulated false claims about him online, engaged in cyberbullying and attempted to extort him.
The dispute grew out of a long running public fallout between Ogala and the founder of Grace Nation International, formerly known as Liberation City. Earlier this year, a Lagos High Court issued an interim order restraining Ogala and social media commentator Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, from making further public statements about Okafor, his church or related materials pending the determination of a civil suit.
The criminal case was first scheduled for arraignment in April but has now been delayed twice due to Ogala’s absence from court.
