An Ikeja High Court has fixed April 16 to deliver its ruling in a suit filed by Nigerian pastor, Dr 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, joining Ogala, Otse and Emmanuel as first, second and third defendants respectively.

When the matter came up on Wednesday before Justice Akintunde Savage, counsel to the claimant, Mr Ife Ajayi, informed the court that all the defendants had been duly served in line with the proof of service issued by the court’s Sheriff.

Ajayi subsequently sought an extension of time within which 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.

Atulomah 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.

He urged the court to strike out the suit on that ground.

“The first defendant is not based in Lagos,” Atulomah submitted. “The claimant even said that all the defendants are based in Abuja and not Lagos.”

According to him, the service of the originating processes on the first defendant was effected outside the jurisdiction of the court, rendering it incompetent.

In response, Ajayi relied on a counter-affidavit dated February 10 and sought the court’s leave to amend the filed processes.

He maintained that the claimant had filed a proper writ of summons in compliance with the law.

After hearing arguments from counsel, Justice Savage adjourned the matter to April 16 for ruling on the preliminary objections.

Earlier in the proceedings, the court had, on February 2, 2026, granted leave for the notice of preliminary objection to be served on the defendants by electronic means.

The court had also, on January 22, granted an interim order restraining the defendants from further mentioning or referring to Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The interim 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 had restrained 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 also barred them 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 the determination of the suit.

In addition, the defendants were restrained from releasing to the public or third parties any material allegedly intended to blackmail or extort money from the claimant until the final resolution of the case. (The PUNCH, but headline rejigged)

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