Court Date Set: Chris Okafor Takes On Doris Ogala, VeryDarkMan, And Others On April 16

An Ikeja High Court has scheduled April 16 for the delivery of a ruling in a lawsuit filed by Nigerian pastor Dr. Chris Okafor against Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and two others.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The other defendants in the case, marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, are social media influencer Martins Otse, known as VeryDarkMan, and Kelvin Emmanuel. Okafor listed Ogala, VeryDarkMan, and Emmanuel as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Okafor’s counsel, Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all parties had been properly served, according to the court’s Sheriff’s proof of service. Ajayi requested additional time to regularize preliminary objections.

However, counsel to the first defendant, Nzeakor Atulomah, noted that a preliminary objection dated January 29 had already been filed. He argued that the writ of summons did not comply with Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, calling the service “mandatory,” and urged the court to strike out the suit, citing that the defendants were based in Abuja, not Lagos.

In response, Ajayi filed a counter affidavit on February 10, seeking permission to amend the already filed processes, insisting that the writ of summons had been properly filed in accordance with the law.

After hearing submissions, Justice Akintunde Savage adjourned the matter to April 16 for ruling on the preliminary objections. Previously, on February 2, the court had allowed notice of the preliminary objection to be served electronically.

Earlier, on January 22, the court issued an interim order restraining the defendants from mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church, or ministry on any platform pending the suit’s determination. The order, granted ex parte under the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, barred the defendants, their agents, or associates from publishing any alleged private materials, including chats, texts, pictures, or videos relating to the claimant.

They were also prohibited from using Okafor’s name, images, or the name of his church, Grace Nation International (also called Liberation City), either orally or in writing. The defendants were further restrained from releasing any material allegedly intended to blackmail or extort the claimant, pending the conclusion of the case.

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