An Ikeja High Court has fixed April 16 to deliver its ruling in a suit filed by Nigerian pastor, Chris Okafor, against Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and Kelvin Emmanuel.
Okafor instituted the suit marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, listing Ogala, Otse and Emmanuel as first, second and third defendants respectively.
When the matter came up on Wednesday before Justice Akintunde Savage at the Ikeja High Court, counsel to the claimant, Mr Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all defendants had been duly served in accordance with proof of service issued by the court’s Sheriff. He subsequently sought an extension of time to regularise certain preliminary processes.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Mr Nzeakor Atulomah, drew the court’s attention to a notice of preliminary objection dated January 29, 2026. He argued that the writ of summons filed by the claimant failed to comply with Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, which he described as mandatory.
Atulomah urged the court to strike out the suit, contending that the first defendant is not resident in Lagos. “The claimant even said that all the defendants are based in Abuja and not Lagos,” he submitted, adding that service of the originating processes outside the court’s jurisdiction rendered it incompetent.
In response, Ajayi relied on a counter-affidavit dated February 10 and sought the court’s leave to amend the processes. He maintained that the writ of summons was properly filed in compliance with the law.
After hearing arguments from counsel, Justice Savage adjourned the case to April 16 for ruling on the preliminary objections.
Earlier, on February 2, 2026, the court had granted leave for the notice of preliminary objection to be served electronically on the defendants.
The court had also, on January 22, issued an interim order restraining the defendants from mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform pending determination of the substantive suit.
The order followed an ex parte application brought under Order 43 Rules 1, 2 and 7 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019.
Justice Savage restrained the defendants, their agents or privies from publishing or releasing any alleged private materials — including chats, texts, images or videos — relating to the claimant.
They were also barred from mentioning Okafor’s name or that of his church, Grace Nation International, also known as Liberation City, whether orally or in writing, pending the determination of the suit.
Additionally, the court prohibited the release of any material allegedly intended to blackmail or extort the claimant until the final resolution of the case.
