- Pastor Chris Okafor and Verydarkmam
By Emmanuel Thomas
LAGOS – A NIGERIAN pastor, Chris Okafor has been given the green light to serve legal papers to a social media influencer via WhatsApp and Instagram after a judge ruled that “digital delivery” is the only way to catch them.
In a modern twist to a high-stakes legal battle, Dr Chris Okafor—the high-profile cleric behind Grace Nation International—is taking on Nollywood actress Doris Ogala and notorious influencer Martins Otse, better known to his fans as VeryDarkMan.
Justice Akintunde Savage, sitting at Ikeja High Court, ruled on Monday that because the defendants’ physical addresses are as elusive as a viral post, the court would allow service via their “active social handles.”
The decision came after lawyers for the Pastor admitted they had no idea where the influencers actually lived, having previously resorted to printing the lawsuit in national newspapers just to get their attention.
The judge ordered that a court sheriff must confirm proof of service before the case returns to court on February 25.
The drama stems from an explosive lawsuit (ID/14399GCMW/2026) where Dr Okafor claims he is being targeted by a smear campaign.
Last month, the court slapped a “gag order” on the trio, strictly forbidding them from:
Mentioning the Pastor or his church, “Liberation City,” on any platform.
Leaking private chats, texts, or videos.
Sharing images allegedly used to “blackmail or extort” the cleric.
Despite the gravity of the “hush-money” and blackmail allegations, the courtroom was notably empty on Monday.
Neither the Pastor nor the three defendants showed up for the roll call.
While the Pastor’s legal team expressed concerns that serving papers via DM (Direct Message) could lead to “denials” by the defendants, the court ruled that in 2026, a blue tick is as good as a signature.
The social media stars now have until late February to log on and face the music—or face the wrath of the High Court.
