A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that Nollywood actress Doris Ogala be remanded at the Ikoyi correctional centre while it considers her bail application.
Ogala was arraigned on Wednesday on a four-count charge. It covers publishing personal materials without consent, spreading false information, cyberbullying and attempted extortion. Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberty and Miracle Ministry, filed the charges.
The case had stalled at two earlier sittings because Ogala was absent. This time, she appeared and pleaded not guilty to all four counts.
Bail Request Opposed
Prosecuting counsel Tolulope Mokolu asked the court to keep her in custody until trial. He said he needed time to study and respond to her bail application, which he had only just received.
Defence counsel N. C. Atulomah opposed this and asked for her release on bail. He told the court that Ogala is a governorship candidate of a political party in Abia State. He also promised to produce her at the next hearing.
Justice Akintayo Aluko held that the defence had not given enough grounds to release her. However, he ordered an accelerated hearing of the bail application. He then adjourned the matter until October 30.
Commotion in Court
Proceedings later broke into disorder. Ogala insisted on addressing the court, even as her lawyer and others tried to calm her.
“I must talk, this is Nigeria, they are using government power to oppress me,” she shouted. She added that her boyfriend was using government power against her.
The judge rose for the day when the situation became uncontrollable.
Ogala Reacts on Instagram
In an Instagram post, Ogala named Jerry Eze, Suleman Johnson, Okafor and Abia State Governor Alex Otti as the people behind her remand. She claimed they feared she would expose secrets she knew about them.
These are her allegations only. None of the named individuals has responded in the report.
