Court Issues Interim Restraining Order in Pastor Okafor's Legal Dispute
An Ikeja High Court has made a significant interim proclamation in the ongoing legal battle involving popular Nigerian pastor Chris Okafor and three public figures. The court has strictly barred social media influencer VeryDarkMan (real name Martins Otse), Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, and Kelvin Emmanuel from mentioning Pastor Okafor's name pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Legal Proceedings and Jurisdictional Challenge
When the matter came up before Justice Akintunde Savage at the Ikeja High Court on Wednesday, February 25, counsel to the claimant, Mr. Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all defendants had been duly served according to proof of service issued by the court's Sheriff. Ajayi sought an extension of time to regularize certain preliminary processes in the case marked ID/14399GCMW/2026.
However, counsel to the first defendant, Mr. Nzeakor Atulomah, raised a strong preliminary objection. Atulomah argued that the writ of summons filed by the claimant did not comply with Section 97 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, which he described as mandatory. The first defendant is not based in Lagos, Atulomah told the court, adding that the claimant himself had acknowledged that all defendants reside in Abuja.
According to the defense counsel, serving court processes outside the court's jurisdiction without proper compliance renders the suit incompetent. He urged the court to strike out the case on that basis. In response, Ajayi relied on a counter-affidavit dated February 10 and sought leave to amend the filed processes, maintaining that the writ of summons complied with legal requirements.
Court's Interim Order and Allegations
Justice Savage adjourned the matter for ruling on April 16 after hearing arguments from both sides. This follows an earlier interim order granted by the court on January 22, which restrained the defendants from mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church, or ministry on any platform pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The order was made following 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 specifically restrained the defendants, their agents, or associates from publishing or releasing any alleged private materials including chats, texts, pictures, images, or videos relating to the claimant.
Okafor's legal team had claimed that the defendants intended to release private materials, including chats and videos, to extort money from him. The court order also bars the defendants from mentioning Okafor's name or that of his church, Grace Nation International (also known as Liberation City), whether orally or in writing, until the case is resolved.
Background of the Dispute
The legal battle has attracted significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of those involved. Doris Ogala had previously made a video speaking about Pastor Chris Okawhile sharing dollar gifts she allegedly received from him. In the video, she claimed to have seen the cleric a few days before Christmas and shared screenshots of messages and calls as proof of their interaction.
The court's interim order represents a significant development in what appears to be a complex legal dispute involving allegations of potential blackmail and extortion attempts. All parties must now await the court's ruling on April 16, which will address both the substantive issues and the jurisdictional challenge raised by the defense.
This case highlights the growing intersection between social media influence, celebrity culture, and legal boundaries in Nigeria's entertainment and religious spheres. The outcome could set important precedents for how courts handle similar disputes involving digital content and personal privacy in the future.
