The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate for Abia State, Doris Ogala, bail in the sum of N30 million over allegations of cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor.
Justice Akintayo Aluko, who granted the bail on Friday, also imposed strict conditions on the defendant, including an order restraining her from harassing, intimidating or threatening prosecution witnesses.
The court further prohibited Ogala from making electronic publications capable of compromising the trial or exposing prosecution witnesses to harassment and intimidation.
As part of the bail conditions, the Nollywood actress-turned-politician is required to produce two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must either own landed property in Lagos State, backed by verifiable registration documents from the Land Registry, or be a prominent national officer of a political party or a person of established reputation.
The sureties must also demonstrate reliable financial standing, reside within the court’s jurisdiction and submit tax clearance certificates for the preceding three years, alongside two recent passport photographs each.
Justice Aluko additionally directed Ogala to surrender her international passport to the court registrar and execute an undertaking to maintain good behaviour throughout the proceedings.
She is expected to be released from custody immediately after satisfying the bail conditions.
Ogala was arraigned by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on a four-count charge bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act 2024.
During the proceedings, the prosecutor, Tolulope Mokolu, alleged that the defendant published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media platforms without his consent, with the intention of causing him embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.
The prosecution further accused her of circulating videos, recordings and electronic messages containing information allegedly known to be false and intended to bully, threaten, intimidate or harass the cleric.
In another count, Ogala was accused of threatening to release more menacing and intimate materials concerning Okafor unless he compensated her or purchased a house for her.
According to the prosecution, the alleged offences were committed between September 2024 and March 2026, in violation of relevant provisions of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, as amended in 2024.
Ogala, however, pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until March 25, 2027, for the commencement of trial.
