An Ikeja High Court has fixed April 16 to deliver ruling in a suit filed by Nigerian pastor, Dr Chris Okafor, against a Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and two others.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that two other defendants in the suit marked ID/14399GCMW/2026 are a social media influencer, Martins Otse, a.k.a VeryDarkMan (VDM) and one Kelvin Emmanuel.
Okafor joined Ogala, VDM and Emmanuel as first, second and third defendants respectively.
When the case was called on Wednesday, Okafor’s Counsel, Mr Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all parties in the suit have been served according to the proof of service by the court’s Sheriff.
Ajayi, thereafter, prayed the court for an extension of time within which preliminary objections would be regularised.
Ogala’s Counsel, Mr Nzeakor Atulomah, however, informed the court of a notice of preliminary objection dated Jan. 29.
Atulomah argued that the writ of summons by the claimant did not comply with Section 97 of Sheriff and Civil Process Act, which was mandatory.
He consequently urged the court to strike out the suit.
Atulonah further argued that the service on the first defendant was done out of jurisdiction.
“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.
Okafor’s counsel, Ajayi, in his counter affidavit dated Feb.10, sought leave of the court to amend the processes filed.
He argued that the claimant had filed a proper writ of summons from the point of law.
Justice Akintunde Savage adjourned until April 16 for ruling on preliminary objections after hearing the submissions of the counsel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the court had on Feb. 2 granted leave to serve a notice of preliminary objection by electronic means on the defendants.
The court had also, on Jan. 22, granted an interim order restraining the defendants from further mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform, pending determination of the substantive suit.
The interim 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 had issued restraining orders on 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.
The court had restrained the defendants 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 determination of the substantive suit.
The court had also restrained the defendants from releasing to the public or third parties, any material said to be used to blackmail or extort money from the claimant, pending the final determination of the suit.
