Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has condemned the remand of actress Doris Ogala at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos, accusing the police of using the Cybercrimes Act to intimidate individuals and protect influential figures.
Ogala was arraigned on Wednesday before Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos over allegations of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and attempted extortion involving Pastor Chris Okafor.
The prosecution, led by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, brought three charges against the actress, including the alleged publication of intimate photographs and dissemination of false electronic messages concerning the cleric.
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.
According to the prosecution, the alleged publications were capable of causing embarrassment, annoyance, emotional distress and reputational damage to the pastor.
Reacting to the development in a Facebook post, Sowore criticised the decision to pursue criminal charges over the allegations, arguing that the Cybercrimes Act should not be used to settle personal disputes.
“Once again, the Nigeria Police Force has deepened its weaponization of the Cybercrimes Act! What kind of society are we becoming?” he wrote.
The activist also questioned the prosecution’s handling of the case and expressed concerns about the perception of impartiality in proceedings involving influential religious figures.
He alleged that the police and the judiciary risk being perceived as instruments for settling personal scores and protecting powerful individuals.
Sowore maintained that private relationships and disputes should not automatically become grounds for criminal prosecution, warning against the use of cybercrime laws as tools of intimidation.
He further noted that Ogala, who is the African Action Congress governorship candidate in Abia State, was entitled to constitutional protection, due process and a fair hearing.
“The police must stop criminalizing private disputes, and the judiciary must never become an instrument of religious influence or personal vendettas. This abuse must end!” he added.
Ogala was remanded pending the hearing and determination of her bail application.
The court adjourned the case until October 30, 2026, for the hearing of the bail application.
