Nollywood actress Doris Ogala on Friday knelt before the Federal High Court in Lagos to apologise for disrupting proceedings during an earlier hearing in her ongoing criminal case.
Key Highlights
- Doris Ogala kneels in court to apologise for disrupting Wednesday’s proceedings.
- Justice Akintayo Aluko fixes November 6, 2026, for ruling on her bail application.
- Actress returned to Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the ruling.
- She faces three counts of alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion linked to Pastor Chris Okafor.
- Ogala pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
Despite her apology, the actress was returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after Justice Akintayo Aluko fixed November 6, 2026, for a ruling on her bail application.
Ogala is standing trial on three counts involving allegations of cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion linked to Pastor Chris Okafor.
The actress, who was remanded following her arraignment on Wednesday, expressed regret over her behaviour and assured the court that such an incident would not happen again.
“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 actions and I apologise to my Lord. I tender my apologies wholeheartedly. Sorry, this will never happen again going forward,” she said.
Judge Says Conduct Could Have Attracted Jail Term
Her apology came after Justice Aluko criticised her conduct during Wednesday’s proceedings, when she allegedly shouted and sang inside the courtroom following an order remanding her in custody.
The judge explained that the disruption forced the court to suspend proceedings, preventing the hearing of more than seven other matters listed for the day.
According to Aluko, the actress risked being punished for contempt of court, but he exercised restraint despite considering her actions serious enough to warrant imprisonment.
“She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose,” the judge stated.
He added that the conduct could have attracted a prison sentence of at least two months.
“Why do you have to start shouting and start singing in the open court? You conducted yourself in a manner that forced the court to rise. That’s what you did, and it’s already recorded,” Aluko said.
The judge also expressed dissatisfaction with the approach adopted by Ogala’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, questioning why he had not initially addressed the courtroom incident before presenting arguments for bail.
He recalled making arrangements for the actress’s bail request to receive accelerated consideration within 48 hours, only for the earlier proceedings to be disrupted.
Responding, Abubakar apologised on behalf of his client and described her behaviour as unfortunate.
The lawyer told the court that he had known Ogala for some time and that the incident was inconsistent with the conduct he had come to expect from her.
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Arguments Over Bail Conditions
Following the apologies, the court proceeded with arguments on the actress’s application for bail.
Abubakar urged the judge to grant his client bail on reasonable terms, maintaining that the prosecution’s counter-affidavit indicated it was not fundamentally opposed to her release.
He argued that by suggesting conditions for bail, the prosecution had effectively acknowledged that the defendant could be released pending trial.
The defence lawyer further submitted that any restrictions imposed by the court should be proportionate and should not unnecessarily interfere with the defendant’s liberty.
He relied on relevant legal authorities to support his position that bail conditions must remain reasonable and consistent with applicable law.
However, prosecuting counsel Tolulope Mokolu requested stricter conditions, citing concerns that the actress’s social media activities could affect witnesses or interfere with the judicial process.
Mokolu argued that although Ogala was entitled to freedom of expression, the exercise of that right must remain within legal boundaries.
The prosecution consequently asked the court to prevent the defendant from contacting witnesses or approaching their addresses and to restrict online publications capable of influencing witnesses or prejudicing the proceedings.
It also urged the court to impose appropriate consequences for any violation of the proposed conditions.
After hearing both sides, Justice Aluko adjourned the matter until November 6 for a decision on the bail application.
Ogala was subsequently taken back to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre pending the court’s ruling.
The actress had been arraigned on Wednesday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation over alleged offences said to have occurred between September 2024 and March 2026.
According to the prosecution, Ogala allegedly circulated nude and intimate images of Pastor Okafor on social media without his consent, causing him embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational harm.
She pleaded not guilty to all three counts.
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