Court Remands AAC Governorship Candidate Over Alleged Cyberstalking, Extortion

Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded the gubernatorial candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC) for Abia State, Doris Ogala, in the custody of the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the hearing of her bail application over the alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion of Pastor Chris Okafor.

Justice Aluko ordered that the Nollywood actress be kept behind bars after she was arraigned before him by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a Four-count charge under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.

The prosecutor, Tolulope Mokolu, told the judge that Ogala allegedly published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent, knowing that the images could cause him embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.

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Mokolu also accused the defendant of publishing and disseminating videos, recordings and electronic messages containing information allegedly known to be false and calculated to bully, threaten, intimidate or harass the pastor.

In the third count, the prosecution alleged that Ogala threatened to continue publishing menacing and intimate material about Okafor unless he compensated her or bought her a house.

The prosecution said the alleged conduct, which occurred between September 2024 and March 2026, contravened provisions of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After her plea, the prosecutor asked the court to remand the defendant and adjourn the trial.

She also sought time to respond to her bail application.

However, the defence counsel, Nathan Atulomah, urged the court to release Ogala, arguing that the granting of bail was at the court’s discretion.

He undertook to produce her when required and told the court she was a governorship candidate for a political party in Abia State.

Atulomah also attempted to explain that the allegations arose from a failed romantic relationship between the actress and the pastor.

Justice Aluko, however, interrupted the submission, saying the explanation was unnecessary at that stage because the court was considering a bail application.

The prosecutor opposed the defence’s request for Ogala’s release, insisting that the prosecution was still within the time allowed to respond to the bail application.

In his ruling, Justice Aluko held that the defence had not placed sufficient material before the court to justify granting its request for the defendant’s immediate release.

The judge ordered Ogala’s remand at a correctional centre and directed that the bail application be heard expeditiously.

He adjourned the matter until 30 October 2026 for the hearing of the application.

Drama, however, unfolded in the courtroom after the ruling when Ogala insisted on addressing the court despite attempts by her lawyer and others to persuade her to remain calm.

The actress reportedly shouted that she was being oppressed through the use of government power, repeatedly insisting, “I must talk. This is Nigeria.”

As the commotion escalated and became difficult to control, Justice Aluko rose for the day.