…Activist alleges weaponisation of Cybercrimes Act as court adjourns bail hearing till Friday
NIGERIA: Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the remand of Nollywood actress Doris Ogala at Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos, accusing the police of using the Cybercrimes Act to pursue cases involving influential individuals.
Ogala was remanded pending the hearing and determination of her bail application after being arraigned on allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor.
The actress was arraigned on Wednesday on three counts filed by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos, Vanguard reports.
The charges reportedly concern the publication of intimate photographs of the cleric, the dissemination of allegedly false electronic messages and threats against him.
Prosecution counsel, Tolulope Mokolu, told the court that Ogala allegedly published nude and intimate photographs of Okafor on her social media accounts without his consent between September 2024 and March 2026.
The prosecution alleged that the publications were capable of causing annoyance, embarrassment and emotional distress, as well as damaging the cleric’s reputation.
Reacting in a Facebook post, Sowore accused the Nigeria Police Force of deploying the Cybercrimes Act against individuals in ways that serve the interests of influential figures.
“Once again, the Nigeria Police Force has deepened its weaponisation of the Cybercrimes Act! What kind of society are we becoming?” he asked.
Questioning the decision to prosecute Ogala, the activist said the authorities should not turn private relationships into criminal proceedings.
He also raised concerns about the handling of the case by Justice Aluko, alleging that the circumstances had created a perception that the police and judiciary could be used to settle personal disputes and protect influential religious figures.
“The Nigeria Police Force has no business turning private relationships into criminal prosecutions or deploying the Cybercrimes Act as a weapon of intimidation,” Sowore wrote.
His comments came amid public attention surrounding the dispute between Ogala and Okafor, although the allegations against the actress remain subject to judicial determination.
Sowore demands protection of actress’s rights
Sowore also pointed to Ogala’s political status, noting that she was the African Action Congress (AAC) governorship candidate in Abia State.
He argued that she was entitled to the full protection of her constitutional rights, due process and a fair hearing, regardless of the allegations against her.
“The police must stop criminalising private disputes, and the judiciary must never become an instrument of religious influence or personal vendettas. This abuse must end!” he added.
The activist’s intervention places the case within a wider debate over the application of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws, particularly where allegations involve online publications, personal disputes and claims of reputational harm.
However, Sowore’s allegations against the police and his concerns about judicial impartiality were his own assertions and were not established findings of the court.
Court fixes Friday for bail hearing
Ogala’s case was adjourned until Friday, October 30, 2026, for the hearing of her bail application.
The actress will remain subject to the court’s remand order pending further proceedings, according to the report.
The court’s consideration of her bail application is expected to determine whether she will be released while the case proceeds.
The allegations against Ogala have not been established as proven offences, and the proceedings remain ongoing.
