Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has apologised to a Federal High Court in Lagos over her conduct during an earlier court sitting, promising not to disrupt proceedings again.
Ogala knelt before Justice Akintayo Aluko on Friday to express remorse for shouting and singing in the courtroom during her appearance on Wednesday.
Despite the apology, the court returned her to the Kirikiri Correctional Centre after reserving its decision on her bail application until November 6, 2026.
The actress is facing three counts bordering on alleged cyberstalking, cyberbullying and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor.
Addressing the court, Ogala admitted her misconduct and pleaded for forgiveness.
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.”
Reacting to the incident, Justice Aluko said Ogala’s behaviour had disrupted proceedings and prevented the court from attending to more than seven other cases scheduled for Wednesday.
The judge disclosed that he had considered committing her for contempt but decided against it.
He said, “She should have been given some form of imprisonment, right, on that day, but I kept my cool and I rose.”
Justice Aluko also criticised the defence counsel for failing to acknowledge the incident and explain his client’s conduct before proceeding with the bail application.
Ogala’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, equally apologised to the court, describing the incident as regrettable and insisting that such behaviour was not characteristic of his client.
Following the apologies, the court heard arguments from both the defence and prosecution on the bail application.
Abubakar urged the court to grant his client bail, arguing that the prosecution had not opposed her release outright but had only proposed conditions for her admission to bail.
He maintained that the conditions should be reasonable and not unnecessarily restrictive, citing relevant judicial authorities on the right to liberty pending trial.
However, the prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, urged the court to impose strict bail conditions, citing concerns that Ogala’s social media activities could influence witnesses or interfere with the proceedings.
Mokolu argued that although the actress was entitled to freedom of expression, the right was not absolute and should not be exercised in a manner that undermined the administration of justice.
The prosecution consequently asked the court to restrict her contact with witnesses and their addresses and prevent her from making social media publications capable of influencing the case.
After considering the arguments, Justice Aluko adjourned the ruling on the bail application until November 6. Ogala was subsequently returned to the correctional facility.
Meanwhile, Abubakar announced plans to petition the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, seeking the withdrawal of the charges against his client.
Speaking after Friday’s proceedings, the lawyer argued that the dispute originated from a failed romantic relationship and should not have resulted in criminal prosecution.
He described the case as an infringement on Ogala’s fundamental rights, insisting that disagreements between former lovers should ordinarily be resolved through civil proceedings.
Abubakar said, “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.”
He further argued that individuals who consider themselves defamed should seek legal redress through civil actions rather than involving law enforcement agencies to arrest their critics.
According to him, criminalising expressions of grievances could undermine freedom of speech and democratic principles.
He said, “Democracy accepts dissent. Democracy accepts even vulgar abuses where a person feels strongly defamed by the utterances of a person who has exercised his right under the law as it relates to their fundamental rights to express themselves.”
The lawyer also called for a review of the Cybercrimes Act, particularly provisions he claimed had been used to suppress freedom of expression.
He recalled previous legal challenges to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act 2015, alleging that courts had declared aspects of the provision unconstitutional before the law was amended in 2024
Abubakar accused some influential individuals and public officials of using security agencies to intimidate critics, warning that such practices could weaken democratic freedoms.
He said he would formally approach the Attorney-General to discontinue the prosecution, maintaining that the matter should not proceed as a criminal case.
Ogala was arraigned on Wednesday by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation on three charges relating to alleged cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion.
Prosecution counsel alleged that the offences occurred between September 2024 and March 2026, claiming that the actress shared nude and intimate photographs of Pastor Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent.
The prosecution said the publications exposed the cleric to embarrassment, emotional distress and reputational damage.
Ogala, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
