An Ikeja High Court has approved the service of court processes through electronic means on social media influencer Martins Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and Kelvin Emmanuel.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Akintunde Savage in a suit filed by Pastor Chris Okafor against Nollywood actress Doris Ogala.
According to NAN, the case, marked ID/14399GCMW/2026, names Ogala as the first defendant, while Otse and Emmanuel are listed as the second and third defendants.
The court granted leave for the claimant to serve the two absent defendants via their WhatsApp, Instagram and other active social media accounts, directing the sheriff to provide proof of service.
The judge adjourned the case to 25 February for confirmation of service and the hearing of preliminary objections.
When the matter was called, Mr Ife Ajayi appeared for the claimant, while Mr Nathan Atulonah represented the first defendant. No counsel appeared for the second and third defendants.
Ajayi told the court that the claimant had earlier served all defendants through a national daily newspaper, having been unable to ascertain their physical addresses.
He, however, raised concerns that service through social media could be disputed, though he did not oppose the application by the first defendant’s counsel seeking electronic service.
NAN further reports that the court had, on 22 January, issued an interim order restraining the defendants from mentioning Okafor, his church or ministry on any platform, pending the outcome of the substantive suit.
The court also prohibited the defendants from publishing any alleged private communications or materials relating to the claimant, including images, videos or messages, and from releasing any such material for purposes of blackmail or extortion.
