An Ikeja High Court has adjourned proceedings to April 16 for the ruling in a suit instituted by Nigerian pastor, Dr. Chris Okafor, against Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and two others.
The other defendants in the suit, marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, are social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and Kelvin Emmanuel.
Okafor joined Ogala, VeryDarkMan, and Emmanuel as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively.
When the matter was called on Wednesday, counsel to the claimant, Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all parties had been duly served, according to the proof of service by the court’s Sheriff.
Ajayi subsequently prayed the court for an extension of time within which preliminary objections would be regularised.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Nzeakor Atulomah, told the court that a notice of preliminary objection dated January 29 had been filed.
Atulomah argued that the writ of summons did not comply with Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, which he described as mandatory.
He urged the court to strike out the suit.
“The first defendant is not based in Lagos. The claimant even said that all the defendants are based in Abuja and not Lagos,” he said, arguing that service was effected out of jurisdiction.
In a counter affidavit dated February 10, Ajayi sought the leave of the court to amend the processes already filed.
He maintained that the claimant had filed a proper writ of summons in line with the law.
After hearing submissions from counsel, Justice Akintunde Savage adjourned the matter until April 16 for ruling on the preliminary objections.
On February 2, the court granted leave to serve a notice of preliminary objection on the defendants by electronic means.
Earlier, on January 22, the court had granted an interim order restraining the defendants from further mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The order followed an ex parte application brought pursuant to Order 43, Rules 1, 2 and 7 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
The court restrained the defendants, their agents or privies from publishing or releasing any alleged private materials, including chats, conversations, texts, pictures, images or videos relating to the claimant.
It also barred them from mentioning Okafor’s name, displaying his pictures, images or videos, as well as the name of his church, Grace Nation International (also known as Liberation City), whether orally or in writing, pending final determination of the suit.
The defendants were further restrained from releasing to the public or third parties any material allegedly used to blackmail or extort money from the claimant, pending the conclusion of the case.
