An Ikeja High Court has slated April 16 to deliver its ruling in a suit instituted by a Nigerian cleric, Dr Chris Okafor, against actress Doris Ogala, social media personality Martins Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, and Kelvin Emmanuel.
The suit, marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, lists Ogala, Otse and Emmanuel as first, second and third defendants, respectively.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday before Justice Akintunde Savage, counsel to the claimant, Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all the defendants had been duly served, in line with the proof of service issued by the Sheriff of the court.
He subsequently applied for additional time to regularise certain preliminary processes.
However, counsel representing the first defendant argued that the service of the originating processes was defective.
He contended that the first defendant resides outside Lagos, maintaining that the claimant had earlier indicated that all the defendants are based in Abuja.
According to him, the processes were served outside the court’s territorial jurisdiction without proper authorisation, thereby rendering the service incompetent.
In response, Ajayi drew the court’s attention to a counter-affidavit dated February 10 and sought leave to amend the processes already filed. He insisted that the writ of summons was properly issued and complied with the relevant provisions of the law.
After listening to submissions from both sides, Justice Savage adjourned the matter until April 16 for ruling on the preliminary objections.
Earlier in the proceedings, the court had, on February 2, 2026, granted permission for the notice of preliminary objection to be served on the defendants through electronic means.
The court had also, on January 22, issued an interim order restraining the defendants from further mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church, Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City, on any platform pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The interim relief 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.
Justice Savage had barred the defendants, their agents or associates from publishing or disseminating any alleged private materials, including chats, messages, images or videos concerning the claimant.
The court further restrained them from mentioning Okafor’s name, displaying his photographs or visual materials, as well as referencing his church in any form, whether written or oral, pending the final resolution of the case.
In addition, the defendants were prohibited from releasing to the public or any third party materials allegedly aimed at blackmailing or extorting the claimant until the suit is conclusively determined.
