IKEJA COURT OKAYS E-SERVICE ON VERYDARKMAN, KELVIN EMMANUEL IN CHRIS OKAFOR SUIT
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
An Ikeja High Court on Monday granted permission for court processes to be served on social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and Kelvin Emmanuel through electronic means in a suit filed by Nigerian cleric, Dr Chris Okafor, against Nollywood actress Doris Ogala.
Justice Akintunde Savage approved the application to serve the second and third defendants via their active WhatsApp, Instagram and other social media accounts, following the absence of their counsel in court.
“Leave is hereby granted to the claimant to serve the second and third defendants on their WhatsApp, Instagram and other active social media accounts. The sheriff must confirm proof of service,” the judge ruled, adjourning the case to February 25 for proof of service and hearing of preliminary objections.
The suit, marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, lists Okafor as the claimant, while Ogala, VDM and Emmanuel are the first, second and third defendants respectively.
When the matter was called, none of the parties was physically present in court. Mr Ife Ajayi appeared for the claimant, while Mr Nathan Atulonah represented the first defendant, Ogala.
Ajayi informed the court that the claimant had complied with an earlier directive by publishing the originating processes in a national daily, Vanguard newspaper, explaining that the defendants were initially served through newspapers because their physical addresses were unknown.
He, however, expressed concern that service through social media could be denied by the defendants. Atulonah, whose client filed a notice of preliminary objection dated January 29 and filed January 30, urged the court to allow service on the second and third defendants through their verified Instagram and WhatsApp accounts. The claimant’s counsel raised no objection.
Meanwhile, the court recalled that it had on January 22 issued an ex parte 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 restraining order, granted pursuant to Order 43 Rules 1, 2 and 7 of the Lagos State High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019, also barred the defendants and their agents from publishing or releasing any alleged private materials—including chats, messages, images or videos—relating to the claimant.
Justice Savage specifically ordered the defendants to refrain from mentioning Okafor’s name, images or videos, as well as the name of his church, Grace Nation International (also known as Liberation City), across social media or any other media platforms.
The court further restrained the defendants from releasing to the public or third parties any materials allegedly intended to blackmail or extort the claimant, pending the final determination of the suit.
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