Actress Doris Ogala Kneels, Apologises For Disrupting Court
Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, on Friday, knelt down before a Federal High Court in Lagos to apologise to the court over her unruly behaviour during an earlier sitting.
Ogala, who is facing charges bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion of Pastor Chris Okafor, expressed remorse before Justice Akintayo Aluko, promising not to repeat the conduct that disrupted proceedings at the previous sitting.
The actress, who had been remanded at the correctional centre following her arraignment on Wednesday, personally appealed to the judge, saying she regretted her actions and never expected to find herself in prison custody.
She said, “I am very sorry, my Lord. I apologise for my bad behaviour. I have never been to prison before and I wasn’t expecting that I would do that.
“I regret my actions and I apologise to my Lord. I tender my apologies wholeheartedly. Sorry, this will never happen again going forward.”
Her apology followed the judge’s expression of displeasure over her unruly behaviour on Wednesday, after she was remanded.
Ogala allegedly shouted and sang in the courtroom, disrupting proceedings and forcing the court to rise.
Justice Aluko said her conduct prevented the court from hearing more than seven other cases scheduled for that day.
The judge said he had considered committing the actress for contempt on the day of the incident but decided against it, despite believing that her conduct warranted punishment.
He said, “She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose.”
The judge further said the actress could have received at least two months’ imprisonment for obstructing court proceedings.
Expressing his displeasure, Aluko said, “Why do you have to start shouting and start singing in the open court? You conducted yourself in a manner that forced the court to rise. That’s what you did, and it’s already recorded.”
He also faulted the defence counsel for failing to begin his address on the bail application by not acknowledging the incident and explaining the defendant’s conduct to the court.
The judge recalled that he had personally directed an accelerated consideration of the bail application, explaining that he had taken steps to ensure that it was heard within 48 hours.
He expressed disappointment that the Wednesday disruption occurred despite the court’s efforts to give the matter accelerated attention.
Ogala’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, also apologised to the judge, describing the incident as regrettable and assuring the court that such conduct was not consistent with his client’s character.
He said he had known the defendant for some time and did not expect her to behave in that manner.
Following the apologies, the court proceeded to hear arguments on the bail application.
Moving the application, Abubakar urged the court to admit his client to bail, arguing that the prosecution had effectively acknowledged her entitlement to bail by proposing conditions for her release in its counter-affidavit.
He submitted that the prosecution’s position showed that it was not opposed to the defendant being released but was concerned about the conditions attached to her release.
According to him, where the prosecution accepts that a defendant may be admitted to bail, the court should exercise its discretion judicially and impose reasonable conditions.
He argued that bail conditions should not be unnecessarily restrictive, urging the judge to consider the circumstances of the case and the applicable provisions of the law.
The defence counsel also cited judicial authorities in support of his argument that bail conditions should be reasonable and should not undermine the right of an accused person to liberty pending trial.
However, the prosecution, led by Tolulope Mokolu, urged the court to impose stringent conditions on the actress, particularly in view of concerns about her activities on social media.
The prosecution argued that Ogala’s continued use of social media could negatively affect witnesses and potentially interfere with the administration of justice.
He maintained that although the defendant enjoyed the constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, such rights were not absolute and must be exercised within the limits of the law.
Mokolu therefore urged the court to restrict her contact with witnesses and their addresses and prevent her from making social media publications capable of influencing witnesses or undermining the proceedings.
The prosecution further argued that any breach of the proposed bail conditions should attract appropriate sanctions.
After listening to the submissions of both parties, Justice Aluko reserved ruling on the bail application till November 6, 2026.
Ogala was subsequently returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where she will remain pending the court’s decision on her bail application.
The actress was arraigned on Wednesday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on three counts bordering on alleged cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion involving Pastor Okafor.
Prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, alleged that Ogala committed the offences between September 2024 and March 2026.
Mokolu told the court that the actress allegedly published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent, exposing him to embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In an interview with Ogala’s counsel, Marshal Abubakar, said he will petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, to withdraw the criminal charges against his client, describing the case as a private dispute between former lovers.
Abubakar disclosed this on Friday while reacting to the decision of the Federal High Court in Lagos to reserve ruling on Ogala’s bail application till November 6, 2026.
Speaking after the proceedings, Abubakar said he believed the prosecution of Ogala was an infringement on her fundamental rights, insisting that the dispute which led to the charges arose from a failed relationship.
He said, “I strongly believe that the arrest of Doris Ogala, the investigation as far as this matter is concerned, and the subsequent filing of charges against her are an affront to her fundamental rights.
“The subject matter that led to this entire transaction in this matter was purely a matter between a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Where former lovers fell apart, and one of the lovers felt cheated, and she reacted through the platform that she has.”
The lawyer stated that the state should not ordinarily involve itself in such a private dispute, adding that Nigerians had the right to express their grievances.
He said, “As far as I am concerned, these are private issues and private matters that the state ordinarily should not involve itself with. Nigerians have a fundamental right to express their grievances and express themselves in manners that they deem fit and appropriate.
