…PFN says his decision to step down forms part of the spiritual discipline imposed by the Christian community.
LAGOS, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Senior Pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor, has temporarily stepped aside from his pastoral responsibilities following widespread backlash over multiple sexual misconduct allegations.
Last Sunday, the cleric publicly apologised to actress Doris Ogala during a church service, where he knelt on the altar, admitted to past “mistakes” and pleaded for forgiveness.
His decision comes weeks after his wedding to a woman identified as Pearl on December 16, 2025, a ceremony attended by notable Christian leaders.
The wedding reportedly took place despite Ogala’s viral claims that Okafor betrayed her after a long-term relationship marked by emotional manipulation and repeated promises of marriage.
In interviews with iNews Times, some church members rejected the accusations, describing them as attempts by certain individuals to blackmail or extort their “man of God.”
However, as the allegations gained momentum on social media with more women sharing similar accounts, iNews Times learnt that influential Christian leaders urged Okafor to step down to ease mounting tension.
A senior executive of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), who is close to the pastor, confirmed the development.
“There are still disciplinary steps to be taken,” the official said.
According to the source, deliberations within PFN were delayed by the festive season, as meetings could not be convened to formally address the scandal.
“Meetings could not hold to decide on actions against him. But due to pressure from respected leaders in the body of Christ, he stepped down for one month. I believe that before the end of the month, decisions would be reached,” the official stated.
Addressing whether PFN would investigate the allegations, the source clarified that criminal matters were beyond the fellowship’s mandate.
“We are not the police or a law enforcement agency. Allegations of rape or other criminal offences should be investigated by the government. Even if PFN conducts inquiries, we cannot arrest anyone,” the official said.
He added that while PFN was actively engaging the matter, its actions should not be misconstrued as a formal investigation.
“There are many steps being taken quietly. His decision to step down is part of the spiritual discipline imposed by PFN and the Christian community,” he explained, noting that the gravity of the allegations necessitated intervention while urging government authorities to play their role.
Despite this, Okafor told his congregation during the church’s New Year crossover service on Wednesday night that his decision was purely for spiritual renewal.
“I will be resting. It’s a time for personal retreat with God and for my wife and me to rest,” he said.
“Since our wedding, we have not rested. We have not even gone for our honeymoon. So from January, we are stepping aside to pray, retreat and return refreshed and stronger.”
He said the break would last until February, although he would not be completely absent from church activities.
The controversy erupted on December 14 when actress Doris Ogala posted a series of emotional videos on Instagram, alleging that she had a sexual relationship with Okafor from 2017, lasting about nine years. She accused him of repeatedly promising marriage before marrying another woman in December 2025.
Ogala also alleged that the pastor shared her explicit photos and videos, contributed to the collapse of her previous marriage, and caused her emotional and financial distress. She released screenshots, bedroom photos and videos, claiming Okafor sent her $10,000 to retract her allegations and blame a rival pastor.
She later issued a legal notice demanding N1bn in damages, alleging threats and intimidation following her arrest and detention by the police.
As the scandal deepened, other women also accused Okafor of sexual misconduct, manipulation and infidelity. His former wife, Bessem Okafor, alleged infidelity, deception and physical abuse, saying she left him 14 years ago due to shame.
In another video, a former choir member identified as Ebere claimed she had a long-term affair with the pastor beginning around 2015, during which she allegedly had four abortions. She said she later kept one pregnancy, resulting in a child, after repeated promises of marriage that were never fulfilled.
More recently, another woman accused the pastor of having sexual relations with both her and her sister, resulting in pregnancies. She called for a DNA test, claiming to have evidence to support her allegations.
Social media activist Martin Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, also shared an audio recording in which a woman, Chidera Okafor who claimed to be the pastor’s daughter alleged that he made inappropriate advances towards her, forcing her to flee their home in 2020. Okafor denied the claim in a viral video.
The Lagos State Police Command said it could not act without a formal petition. Its spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said no complaint had been filed against the pastor.
“If there is any petition, the department handling it would have informed me. Anyone with a complaint should come forward,” she said.
When iNews Times visited the church headquarters in Ojodu, Lagos, officials declined to comment, saying the pastor had committed everything to God.
Some long-standing members, however, dismissed the allegations as malicious and financially motivated. One of them, Ruben Alufe, who said he had worshipped at the church for 20 years, insisted the claims were false.
“Pastor Okafor is a good man of God. They just want to blackmail him,” he said, citing the pastor’s contributions to community development.
Another member argued that the timing of the accusations cast doubt on their credibility, while a church pastor, speaking anonymously, described the situation as a spiritual trial common in ministry.
Reacting to the controversy, the Lagos Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, urged ministers to live by the values they preach, warning that judgment begins in the house of God.
He said genuine repentance could warrant a second chance, adding that some self-proclaimed pastors were driven by personal interests rather than divine calling.
Similarly, Archbishop Osazee William of the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops in London noted that allegations involving pastors often attract disproportionate attention.
While condemning wrongdoing, he stressed that pastors are human and capable of falling, urging self-discipline and caution to avoid situations that could undermine their calling.
“Pastors must know their limits and consciously guard themselves against their weaknesses,” he said.
