The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted actress Doris Ogala bail in the sum of ₦30m, with two sureties in like sum, over alleged cyberstalking and other offences involving Pastor Chris Okafor.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, who granted the bail on Friday, ordered Ogala to surrender her international passport to the court registrar and restrained her from making electronic publications capable of harassing, threatening or intimidating prosecution witnesses.
In his ruling, the judge said he considered the need to balance the defendant’s constitutional right to liberty with the responsibility of protecting prosecution witnesses and preserving the integrity of the trial.
He said, “I have taken all of the above into account in a bid to attach conditions that will guarantee or ensure the defendant’s attendance in court for her trial, and the need to protect the witnesses of the prosecution from harassment, threat or intimidation.”
Justice Aluko expressed concern over Ogala’s alleged conduct during proceedings on October 28, 2026, which he said disrupted the court’s sitting and resulted in the adjournment of 10 cases.
He said, “By her misconduct and conduct in the open court, when she disrupted proceedings and caused a series of adjournments without any justification on the 28th of October, 2026, the defendant has exposed herself as a person capable of fomenting trouble when she is outside the courtroom.”
The judge, however, acknowledged that Ogala had apologised to the court over her conduct, stressing that she remained presumed innocent under the Constitution.
He said, “That notwithstanding, the defendant is still presumed innocent by the provision of the Constitution.”
The judge also considered the prosecution’s concerns that the actress could use her social media accounts and other online platforms to harass or intimidate witnesses.
Consequently, he restrained her from making electronic publications capable of exposing prosecution witnesses to public ridicule, harassment, threats or intimidation.
He said, “Any unwarranted electronic publication capable of exposing the prosecuting witnesses to public harassment, ridicule, threat or intimidation, which is equally capable of exposing the proceedings of the court to ridicule and distortion, is accordingly restrained and disallowed.”
Justice Aluko further ordered Ogala to enter into a recognisance on oath to be of good behaviour and refrain from misconduct within the courtroom and its premises throughout the trial.
The actress had applied for bail in an application dated October 26 and filed on October 27, 2026, pursuant to Section 35(5) of the Constitution and Sections 158 and 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Opposing the application, the prosecution alleged that Ogala deliberately failed to attend previous court proceedings on April 23 and June 9, 2026, citing ill health.
It presented photographs which it claimed showed the actress participating in political activities, public gatherings, campaigns and protests during the period she had reportedly been indisposed.
The prosecution also argued that the allegations against her involved the use of social media to publish and circulate electronic materials forming part of its evidence, raising concerns about possible interference with witnesses.
However, the defence maintained that the alleged offences were bailable and that Ogala would not commit another offence, interfere with witnesses or evade trial if granted bail.
Her lawyer attributed her previous absence from court to ill health and urged the judge to grant her bail to enable her to prepare for trial and pursue her governorship ambition.
In considering the application, Justice Aluko referred to Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which provides for the grant of bail except where circumstances justify its refusal, including the likelihood of the defendant committing another offence, evading trial or interfering with investigations.
The judge also cited the Supreme Court’s decision in Suleiman’s case, which outlined the principles guiding the exercise of judicial discretion in bail applications.
He said, “The main function of bail is to ensure the presence of the accused at trial. That is the touchstone of all the criteria.”
Justice Aluko added that courts must exercise their discretion judicially and judiciously, based on the facts and circumstances of each case.
He subsequently ruled that granting the application would serve the interest of justice.
Under the bail conditions, Ogala is required to provide two sureties in the sum of ₦30m each.
One of the sureties must either own a property in Lagos State, supported by verifiable evidence of registration at the Land Registry and duly certified by the Registrar of Deeds, or be a prominent national officer of her political party or a person of established reputation.
The sureties must also be persons of reliable means, reside within the court’s jurisdiction and undergo verification by the court registrar.
They are required to submit tax clearance certificates covering the last three years and provide two recent passport photographs each.
The judge further directed Ogala to surrender her international passport to the court registrar and ordered that she be released from custody immediately upon fulfilling the bail conditions.
Earlier, when the case was called, Ogala was absent from court. Her lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, informed the judge that she was receiving treatment at a hospital following surgery.
Abubakar told the court that his client was at the General Hospital in Ajegunle for treatment after undergoing a gynaecological surgery, which he said had resulted in bleeding.
