Legal counsel to Pastor Chris Okafor, Mr. Ife Ajayi, has strongly challenged the growing public and social media commentary backing Nollywood actress Doris Ogala in her ongoing cyberbullying and extortion trial.
Addressing reporters on Saturday outside the Federal High Court in Lagos, Ajayi emphasized that constitutional guarantees of free speech do not license individuals to make false, malicious, or damaging allegations against others.
The legal warning follows public commentary and intervention by activists, including Omoyele Sowore, who have raised concerns over Ogala’s remand in custody.
The case centers on serious allegations brought against the actress by Dr. Chris Okafor, the Senior Pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries.
Prosecuted under the legal supervision of Justice Akintayo Aluko at the Lagos Judicial Division of the Federal High Court, Ogala faces formal charges of cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and attempted extortion following proceedings that unfolded between Friday, October 30, and Saturday morning, October 31.
Speaking on behalf of the cleric, Ajayi urged public commentators and social media figures to refrain from conducting a parallel “trial by social media,” stressing that legal disputes must be decided strictly by judicial evidence rather than public sentiment.
”The law is not about emotion or sentiment. It is about logic and legal accountability. It is a place where people are held accountable for their unlawful conduct,” Ajayi stated. “You cannot behave disrespectfully at a police station or anywhere else and expect to do the same in a court of law.”
Ajayi advised members of the public to examine the formal charge sheet to understand the gravity of the allegations. He noted that the prosecution has assembled a robust case backed by extensive documentary, audio, and video evidence detailing Ogala’s alleged campaign to damage Pastor Okafor’s reputation and incite public hostility against him.
During the court sitting on Friday, Ogala openly apologized to Justice Aluko, kneeling before the bench after her previous outbursts disrupted court proceedings. Her defense counsel, Nzeakor Atulomah of Synergy Law Partners, pleaded for her release on bail, offering to personally guarantee her future conduct.
Reacting to the defense’s application, Ajayi pointed out that Ogala’s initial courtroom demeanor raised serious doubts about her willingness to comply with standard bail conditions. Justice Aluko subsequently granted the prosecution 48 hours to formally respond to the bail application, keeping the actress remanded in custody pending the court’s ruling.
In light of the ongoing legal battle, Ajayi called on Nigeria’s National Assembly to consider enacting tighter legal frameworks to curb public defamation and malicious online call-outs stemming from private disputes.
He reaffirmed that Pastor Okafor remains confident in the judicial process and looks forward to a resolution grounded entirely in the facts presented before the court.
