A Lagos State High Court has issued an interim order restraining social media personality Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, actress Doris Ogala, and Kelvin Emmanuel from discussing Pastor Chris Okafor, his church, or his ministry in public or online.
Justice M. A. Savage of the High Court sitting in Ikeja granted the order on Thursday, January 22, following an application filed by the claimant’s lawyer, Ife Ajayi. The court held that the order will remain in force pending the determination of the substantive suit before it.
The judge barred the defendants, either by themselves or through agents, from mentioning the name, images, videos, or pictures of Pastor Okafor, as well as Grace Nation International Church, also known as Liberation City, on social media or any other platform. They were also restrained from publishing or circulating any alleged private chats, conversations, text messages, images, pictures or videos connected to the claimant.
Justice Savage further ordered that the defendants must not release any material capable of being used to blackmail or extort money from Pastor Okafor. He also granted an order for substituted service, directing that court processes be served on the defendants through publication in a national newspaper. The matter was adjourned to February 2, 2026, for hearing.
The suit, marked ID 14399GCMW 2026, follows public allegations made by Doris Ogala and VeryDarkMan against the cleric in recent months. The claims, which were widely circulated online, included calls for security agencies to investigate activities linked to the church.
The interim order does not determine the merits of the case. The court is expected to consider arguments from both sides when the matter comes up for substantive hearing.
