Doris Ogala Remanded: Chris Okafor's Lawyer Sheds Light on Controversial Prison Stay

Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has been remanded at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre in Lagos following her ongoing legal dispute with Pastor Chris Okafor, the founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry. The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation arraigned Ms. Ogala before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos on three counts: cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and attempted extortion. Her bail application is scheduled to be heard on Friday.

The dispute between Ms. Ogala and Pastor Okafor originated in December 2025, when the actress accused the cleric of "wrecking her life" after he allegedly failed to marry her. Ms. Ogala claimed she had been in a relationship with Mr. Okafor since 2017, and her accusations escalated after a video of his engagement to another woman circulated online. She was previously arrested and detained for two days over allegations of sharing the pastor’s private photographs. An interim court order had also been issued, restraining Ms. Ogala and others from publicly or online discussing Mr. Okafor, his church, or ministry.

Ife Ajayi of Sovereignty LP, Pastor Okafor's lawyer, explained that police investigations into Ms. Ogala's allegations against his client were forwarded to appropriate authorities, leading to the filing of charges. Mr. Ajayi alleged that Ms. Ogala failed to respond to multiple court invitations and questioned her claims of illness, stating that she was seen active on social media during periods she claimed to be unwell. He emphasized that the prosecution found sufficient grounds for charges after reviewing the police reports.

Regarding the court proceedings, Mr. Ajayi stated that an oral bail application was declined due to insufficient material before the court, leading to her remand until Friday for a formal bail hearing. He further described Ms. Ogala's conduct in court as disrespectful, noting that she "started ranting" upon hearing of the remand, which displeased lawyers and the audience. Mr. Ajayi also claimed that Ms. Ogala had denied making the initial allegations against Pastor Okafor, despite what he described as overwhelming evidence, including her own use of social media for a "smear campaign."

Mr. Ajayi firmly dismissed Ms. Ogala’s claims that other public figures, including Pastor Jerry Eze, Pastor Johnson Suleman, and Abia State Governor Alex Otti, were responsible for her remand, asserting their innocence and lack of involvement in the case. He highlighted that Ms. Ogala's behavior suggested she believed she was above the law and could act without restraint, emphasizing the need for accountability in society.

Conversely, Ms. Ogala’s lawyer, Nzeakor Atulomah of Synergy Law Partners, stressed that his client has no obligation to prove her innocence at the arraignment stage. He explained that Wednesday's proceedings were solely for reading the charges and recording her plea (not guilty), and that the prosecution bears the full responsibility of establishing the allegations against her. Mr. Atulomah also stated he was unaware of any allegations by his client implicating Governor Otti, Pastor Eze, or Pastor Suleman in her remand, urging the public and media to avoid sensational reporting and seek factual clarifications.

Despite her lawyer's statements, Ms. Ogala herself posted on Instagram, directly accusing "Jerry Eze, Chris Okafor and Suleman Johnson" of being responsible for her remand. In a video obtained prior to her being taken into custody, the actress insisted that the court, being "a commoner’s place to talk," was being weaponized against her by her "boyfriend," Pastor Okafor, to secure her imprisonment, a fate she declared she would accept. Comedian Aderombi “DeeOne” Martins also confirmed the remand, attributing it to the dispute with Pastor Okafor, though he could not confirm the involvement of other pastors.

Ms. Ogala is also the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate for governor of Abia State in the forthcoming election. Her remand will continue until the court hears her bail application on Friday, with the allegations against her yet to be determined by the court.