Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has knelt before a Federal High Court judge in Lagos to apologise for disrupting court proceedings, following an outburst that reportedly prevented the hearing of more than seven other cases.
Ogala, who appeared before Justice Akintayo Aluko on Friday, October 30, expressed remorse over her behaviour during an earlier sitting, admitting that she had acted wrongly and promising not to repeat the incident. Her apology, however, did not secure her immediate release, as the court reserved its ruling on her bail application until November 6, 2026.
The actress, who is facing charges bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor, was subsequently returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where she has remained since her arraignment.
What Doris Ogala Said Before Disrupting Court Proceedings
The incident that prompted Friday’s apology occurred on Wednesday, October 28, shortly after Ogala was arraigned and remanded in custody.
Following the court’s decision, the actress reportedly became agitated, shouting and singing inside the courtroom. Her remarks included an accusation that the government and the court were being used to oppress her over her relationship with Okafor.
According to an account of the proceedings, she shouted:
“This is Nigeria; they want to use the government to oppress me. My boyfriend is using the government and the court to oppress me. This cannot happen. Chris Okafor is my boyfriend.”
Her outburst disrupted the sitting and forced Justice Aluko to rise, bringing proceedings to a halt.
The incident had consequences beyond Ogala’s own case. The judge explained on Friday that her behaviour prevented the court from attending to more than seven other cases scheduled for that day, including matters that had been listed for hearing.
Judge Explains Why Doris Ogala Could Have Faced Imprisonment
While addressing the incident on Friday, Justice Aluko expressed considerable displeasure, questioning why the actress had chosen to shout and sing in an open court.
“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,” the judge said.
He further disclosed that he had considered committing her for contempt on Wednesday but decided against it.
“She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose,” he stated.
The judge also observed that her conduct could have attracted at least two months’ imprisonment for obstructing court proceedings.
Justice Aluko was particularly disappointed because he had personally directed that her bail application receive accelerated consideration, taking steps to ensure it would be heard within 48 hours.
He described the disruption as a disappointing response to the court’s efforts, saying:
“The news is all over. Simply because a charge was read and an application for bail was adjourned. On my own, I ordered accelerated hearing, and she compensated the court with chaos.“
The judge also faulted her defence counsel for not first acknowledging the incident and explaining his client’s behaviour before proceeding with arguments on the bail application.
Doris Ogala Kneels and Apologises to the Judge
Following the judge’s expression of displeasure, Ogala personally appealed for forgiveness and tendered an apology.
The actress knelt before Justice Aluko, expressing regret over her conduct and acknowledging that she had behaved inappropriately.
She told the court:
“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.”
She continued:
“I regret my actions and I apologise to my Lord. I tender my apologies wholeheartedly. Sorry, this will never happen again going forward.”
Her lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, also apologised to the judge, describing the incident as regrettable and assuring the court that such behaviour was inconsistent with his client’s character.
He told the court that he had known Ogala for some time and did not expect her to conduct herself in that manner.
Defence and Prosecution Disagree Over Bail Conditions
After the apologies, the court proceeded to hear arguments on Ogala’s bail application.
Her defence counsel urged Justice Aluko to grant her bail on reasonable conditions, arguing that the prosecution had effectively acknowledged her entitlement to bail by proposing conditions for her release in its counter-affidavit.
Abubakar maintained that bail conditions should not be unnecessarily restrictive and asked the court to exercise its discretion in favour of his client, citing judicial authorities on the right to liberty pending trial.
However, the prosecution, led by Tolulope Mokolu, urged the court to impose stringent conditions, raising concerns about Ogala’s social media activities and their possible effect on witnesses.
Mokolu argued that her continued online publications could influence witnesses or interfere with the administration of justice.
Although acknowledging her constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression, the prosecution maintained that those rights were not absolute.
It asked the court to restrict her contact with witnesses and their addresses and prevent publications capable of influencing witnesses or undermining the proceedings. It also urged the court to attach appropriate consequences to any breach of the proposed conditions.
Doris Ogala’s Lawyer Plans to Petition Attorney-General
Speaking after the proceedings, Abubakar disclosed plans to petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeking the withdrawal of the charges against his client.
The lawyer described the dispute as a private disagreement between former lovers, arguing that the state should not have turned it into a criminal prosecution.
He said he believed the arrest, investigation and subsequent filing of charges against Ogala amounted to an infringement of her fundamental rights.
Abubakar also questioned the criminalisation of online expression, arguing that individuals who feel defamed should ordinarily seek redress through civil proceedings.
He maintained that democracy accommodates criticism and dissent, even when expressions are considered offensive.
The lawyer further referred to legal challenges involving Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015 and the subsequent 2024 amendment, alleging that security agencies had continued to apply the law without adequately reflecting the changes.
He confirmed his intention to formally approach the Attorney-General, saying:
“It is also my honest belief that this matter should be discontinued and the charges withdrawn. In that regard, I will be filing an application to the Minister of Justice and the Attorney-General to withdraw this charge because it ought not to have been filed in the first place.”
Why Doris Ogala Remains in Kirikiri Correctional Centre
Ogala’s legal troubles stem from three charges filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, bordering on alleged cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion involving Okafor.
The prosecution alleged that the offences occurred between September 2024 and March 2026. It also accused her of publishing nude and intimate photographs of the cleric on social media without his consent, exposing him to embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.
Ogala pleaded not guilty to the charges.
After listening to the arguments from both parties on Friday, Justice Aluko reserved his ruling on the bail application until November 6, 2026.
The actress was subsequently returned to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre, where she will remain pending the court’s decision
.Her apology has addressed the judge’s immediate concerns over the courtroom disruption, but the question of her release remains before the court.
