Lagos High Court Bars VeryDarkMan
OpenLife Nigeria reports that in Fresh Scandal Twist In a significant development at the Ikeja division of the Lagos High Court, Justice M. A. Savage has issued an interim injunction restraining social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMan or VDM), Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, and Kelvin Chimaobi Emmanuel from making any further public references to Pastor Chris Okafor, his ministry, or his church on any platform.
COURT RESTRAINS SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER VERYDARKMAN AND ACTRESS DORIS OGALA FROM DISCUSSING PROMINENT CLERIC, PASTOR CHRIS OKAFOR
The order, delivered on Thursday, remains in force until the substantive suit (ID/14399GCMW/2026) filed by Dr. Chris Okafor is determined. Represented by counsel Mr. Ife Ajayi, the clergyman secured the ex-parte relief under Order 43 Rules 1, 2, and 7 of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019 and the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The defendants and their agents are now prohibited from publishing, sharing, or disseminating any alleged private chats, texts, images, videos, or other materials involving Dr. Okafor. They are equally barred from using his name, photographs, or the name of his church Grace Nation International (also known as Liberation City) across social media or any other medium.
The ruling further forbids any conduct capable of amounting to blackmail or extortion against the claimant. The court approved substituted service of the originating processes via newspaper publication and adjourned the matter to February 2, 2026, for hearing.
ORIGINS OF THE DISPUTE
The controversy erupted in late 2025 following the public circulation of a video showing Pastor Chris Okafor’s engagement ceremony to his wife, Pearl. Shortly afterward, actress Doris Ogala went public with explosive allegations, claiming she had been in a nine-year romantic relationship with the pastor starting around 2017.
According to Ogala, the clergyman repeatedly promised her marriage, leading her to dissolve her previous relationship, only for him to later withdraw without justification. She accused him of circulating her private photos and videos without consent, causing her severe emotional distress.
HOW THE SITUATION INTENSIFIED
Ogala escalated the matter by alleging that Pastor Okafor, together with another cleric named Psalm Okpe, had allegedly drugged her drink during a hotel encounter to enable non-consensual intimacy. She demanded $50,000, monthly stipends, and a stake in the ministry, threatening a ₦1 billion lawsuit if her conditions were not met.
The actress began releasing purported screenshots of private conversations and audio recordings, vowing to expose more names—including other women in the entertainment industry she claimed were similarly involved with the pastor.
Pastor Okafor initially dismissed the accusations as false and extortionate. However, on December 28, 2025, during a church service, he knelt publicly, expressed regret for past mistakes, and apologized to Ogala and anyone else affected, while maintaining that not all claims were factual.
Ogala rejected the apology as insufficient, citing additional personal losses including the death of her sibling which she indirectly linked to the ordeal. Several other women subsequently came forward with similar stories of extramarital affairs, coerced abortions, and abandonment of children.
Police authorities briefly detained Ogala during an interview before releasing her, while the pastor voluntarily submitted to questioning and presented counter-evidence.
OGALA’S REVELATIONS OF CONCEALED MATTERS
In subsequent online posts, Doris Ogala disclosed what she described as previously hidden aspects of their relationship. She alleged that Pastor Okafor once paid her $10,000 to fabricate stories implicating rival pastors in orchestrating attacks against him, using her as a front to deflect scrutiny from his own conduct.
She further hinted at possessing information about the clergyman’s involvement with multiple women in the entertainment industry and threatened to name them if they continued to remain silent.
VERYDARKMAN’S ROLE IN THE AFFAIR
Social media commentator VeryDarkMan (VDM) entered the fray by publicly supporting Ogala. He shared a recorded phone conversation with her just before her brief detention, voiced fears for her safety, and warned of severe consequences should any harm befall her. VDM threatened to release damaging material against Pastor Okafor unless certain demands including Ogala’s unconditional release were met.
In response, the pastor’s legal team accused VDM of cyberbullying, defamation, and harassment, demanding that he and others produce verifiable evidence to law enforcement or face prosecution.
Ogala later issued a 24-hour ultimatum for the pastor to retract statements made against VDM. The influencer’s involvement significantly amplified the story, turning a private dispute into a nationwide online spectacle.
REPERCUSSIONS FOR THE CLERIC’S RELIGIOUS WORK
The scandal has inflicted serious damage on Pastor Chris Okafor’s ministry, Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries. Reports indicate the permanent closure of its Canadian branch amid the controversy. In January 2026, the pastor announced a one-month break from pulpit duties, officially described as a period of spiritual retreat and honeymoon, though many observers attribute the decision directly to mounting public pressure.
The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria is reportedly conducting an internal investigation, with growing calls for disciplinary measures. Attendance and public confidence in the ministry appear to have declined sharply, as online criticism and allegations of moral lapses continue to fuel widespread debate about accountability in religious leadership.
ONGOING DEVELOPMENTS
With the Lagos High Court’s interim order now active, public commentary on Pastor Chris Okafor by the named defendants has been legally curtailed pending the February 2, 2026 hearing. Police investigations remain active, with the clergyman’s representatives stressing cooperation and transparency while challenging accusers to substantiate their claims in court.
The matter continues to highlight the complex intersection of personal privacy, public accusations, digital evidence, and legal protections in Nigeria’s fast-evolving social media landscape.
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