AAC Governorship Candidate Doris Ogala Apologises To Court Disrupting Court Proceedings

The African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate for Abia State, Doris Ogala, apologised to Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday for her unruly behaviour during Wednesday’s proceedings.

However, the court returned the Nollywood actress-turned-politician to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after adjourning its ruling on her bail application until November 6, 2026.

Ogala, who faces a three-count charge of alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor, knelt before Justice Aluko and expressed remorse for disrupting court proceedings.

Read Also: Doris Ogala Remanded In Ikoyi Prison For ‘Cyberbullying’ Chris Okafor

“I am very sorry, my Lord. I apologise for my bad behaviour. I have never been to prison before, and I wasn’t expecting that I would do that. I regret my action and promise that it will never happen again,” she said.

Her apology followed the judge’s condemnation of her conduct on Wednesday, when she allegedly shouted and sang in the courtroom, forcing the court to rise and preventing it from hearing more than seven other cases.

Justice Aluko said he had considered committing her for contempt but restrained himself, adding that her conduct could have attracted at least two months’ imprisonment.

The defence counsel, Marshal Abubakar, also apologised on her behalf, describing the incident as regrettable and assuring the court that such behaviour would not recur in the future.

After the apologies, the court heard arguments on the bail application.

Abubakar urged the court to grant bail, arguing that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit, which proposed conditions for her release, showed it did not oppose bail.

He asked the judge to impose reasonable conditions that would not unnecessarily restrict his client’s liberty pending trial.

However, prosecution counsel Tolulope Mokolu urged the court to impose stringent conditions, citing concerns that Ogala’s social media activity could influence witnesses or interfere with the trial.

He asked the court to restrict her contact with witnesses and prohibit publications that could undermine the proceedings.

After listening to the lawyers, Justice Aluko adjourned his ruling on the bail application until November 6, 2026, and ordered that the defendant be further remanded in custody.

The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation arraigned the defendant on Wednesday.

The prosecution alleged that she committed the offences between September 2024 and March 2026 by publishing intimate photographs of Okafor on social media without his consent.

The defendant was also accused 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 offences contravened provisions of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Meanwhile, Abubakar has threatened to petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), seeking the withdrawal of the charges.

Speaking after the proceedings, the lawyer described the case as a private dispute arising from a failed relationship between Ogala and Pastor Okafor, arguing that it should not have been criminalised.

He maintained that anyone who felt defamed by another person’s statements should seek redress through civil proceedings rather than resorting to criminal prosecution.

Abubakar also criticised the application of the Cybercrimes Act in cases involving freedom of expression, alleging that security agencies continued to use its provisions to intimidate critics despite the 2024 amendments.

He said he would formally ask the Attorney-General to discontinue the prosecution, insisting that the charges infringed on his client’s fundamental rights.