The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted actress Doris Ogala bail in the sum of ₦30 million over alleged cyberstalking and related offences involving televangelist Pastor Chris Okafor.
Delivering the ruling on Friday, Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered the actress to provide two sureties in like sum, surrender her international passport to the court registrar, and refrain from making electronic publications that could intimidate, harass, or influence prosecution witnesses.
The judge stated that the court sought to balance Ogala’s constitutional right to liberty with the need to protect witnesses and preserve the integrity of the judicial process. He noted concerns over her conduct during proceedings on October 28, 2026, when she allegedly disrupted court activities, leading to the adjournment of several cases.
Despite those concerns, Justice Aluko emphasised that Ogala remains presumed innocent under the law and acknowledged her apology to the court for the incident.
As part of the bail conditions, the court directed Ogala to sign a recognisance undertaking to maintain good behaviour throughout the trial. The judge also barred her from publishing online content capable of exposing prosecution witnesses to harassment, ridicule, threats, or intimidation.
The prosecution had opposed the bail application, alleging that the actress previously failed to appear in court on health grounds while allegedly participating in political activities and public events during the same period. Prosecutors also expressed concerns that she could use social media platforms to interfere with witnesses.
However, the defence argued that the charges were bailable, insisting that Ogala would not abscond, interfere with witnesses, or commit further offences if released. Her lawyers maintained that her earlier absences were due to health challenges and requested bail to enable her prepare for trial and continue her political ambitions.
In granting the application, Justice Aluko reiterated that the primary purpose of bail is to ensure an accused person's attendance in court and ruled that the interests of justice favoured her release.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must either own verifiable property in Lagos State or be a prominent official of her political party or another reputable public figure. Both sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, provide evidence of financial standing, and submit tax clearance certificates for the past three years.
Ogala’s legal counsel informed the court that she was absent from Friday’s proceedings because she was receiving treatment at a general hospital following a gynaecological surgery.
The case is scheduled to continue as the court begins hearing the substantive charges against the actress.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com