Lagos Police order probe into sexual misconduct allegations against Pastor Chris Okafor

The Lagos State Police Command has ordered a full investigation into multiple allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor.

The directive was issued by the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, who instructed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, to take over the matter following intense public reaction to claims that went viral on social media in recent days.

The controversy deepened on New Year’s Day when Pastor Okafor announced that he was stepping aside from pastoral duties, as more women came forward with accusations against him. Among them is Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, whose claims helped bring the matter into the public spotlight.

During a church service last Sunday, Okafor publicly apologised to Ogala, kneeling at the pulpit and admitting to what he described as past “mistakes,” while asking for forgiveness before members of the congregation.

The allegations surfaced barely weeks after the cleric’s wedding to a new bride, Pearl, on December 16, 2025. The ceremony was attended by several prominent church leaders and attracted significant attention within religious circles.

Earlier, the Lagos State Police Command had stated that no arrest had been made because none of the alleged victims had submitted a formal petition. However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, later confirmed that the Commissioner of Police had ordered the SCID to invite Pastor Okafor and all accusers for questioning, despite the absence of an official complaint.

According to Adebisi, witnesses connected to the allegations would also be invited to provide statements as part of the investigation. She disclosed that the police had reached out to a YouTuber who interviewed some of the alleged victims in order to establish contact between investigators and potential witnesses.

The allegations first gained widespread attention on December 14 when Doris Ogala shared a series of videos on Instagram, alleging that she had a relationship with Okafor dating back to 2017. She claimed the pastor promised to marry her, shared explicit content, contributed to the collapse of her marriage, and caused her emotional and financial distress.

Ogala further alleged that the cleric offered her $10,000 to withdraw her claims and accuse a rival pastor instead. Through her lawyers, she later demanded N1 billion in damages, accusing Okafor of intimidation and threats following her arrest and detention.

As the controversy expanded, other women, including Okafor’s former wife, Bessem Okafor, also accused him of infidelity, manipulation and abuse. However, some members of his church have dismissed the allegations, insisting they are part of a coordinated attempt to blackmail and discredit their pastor.

The Lagos State Police Command says investigations are ongoing.