Pastor Chris Okafor, the prominent leader of Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, has officially vacated his pulpit for at least one month.
The high-profile cleric announced the hiatus during a New Year’s crossover service, framing the move as a "spiritual retreat" and a delayed honeymoon with his new wife, Pearl.
According to him, My decision to step down was for spiritual renewal, I will be resting. It would be time for personal retreat with God and time for me and my wife to rest,” the pastor told his congregation.
“Since our wedding, we have not rested. We have not had time. We have not even done our honeymoon. So, we are stepping aside to pray, to have a retreat and to rest from this January, and to return better and stronger from the presence of the Lord.”
Okafor said the break, which he noted did not mean he would be totally absent from church activities, would last until February
However, the timing of his departure has sparked intense public debate as it coincides with a wave of serious sexual misconduct allegations.
The controversy reached a fever pitch following Okafor’s wedding on December 16, 2024. Despite the celebratory nature of the event, it was overshadowed by a viral campaign led by actress Doris Ogala.
She accused the "Man of God" of a nine-year affair, emotional manipulation, and reneging on a promise of marriage. In a dramatic turn of events last Sunday, Okafor was seen kneeling on his pulpit to publicly apologize to Ogala for "past mistakes," seeking his congregation’s forgiveness.
Behind the scenes, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) appears to be pulling the strings of this sudden sabbatical. While Okafor maintains the break is for rest, PFN insiders suggest his stepping down is a direct result of "spiritual pressure" and disciplinary measures orchestrated by the body.
A senior official confirmed that leadership intervened to douse the rising tension within the Christian community as the scandal escalated.
The allegations against Okafor are both numerous and harrowing. Actress Doris Ogala has filed a legal notice seeking N1 billion in damages, claiming the pastor leaked explicit content of her and contributed to the collapse of her previous marriage.
She further alleged that Okafor offered her $10,000 to retract her statements and blame a rival pastor for the smear campaign—a claim she has rejected while providing screenshots as evidence.
Adding to the fire, the pastor's former wife, Bessem Okafor, recently surfaced in a YouTube interview to detail her reasons for leaving him 14 years ago. She cited a pattern of physical assault, deception, and chronic infidelity.
Her testimony has lent weight to the claims of other women who have since come forward, painting a picture of long-term systemic abuse within the ministry’s inner circle.
One particularly disturbing account comes from a former choir member identified as Ebere. She alleges a multi-year affair with Okafor that resulted in four abortions and the birth of a child he refuses to acknowledge.
Other anonymous women have echoed these claims on social media, alleging concurrent affairs with sisters and fathered children, even calling for DNA tests to prove the pastor’s paternity.
Perhaps the most shocking allegation involves an audio clip shared by activist VeryDarkMan.
In the recording, a young woman claiming to be the pastor’s daughter, Chidera, asserts that she fled her home in 2020 because her father made "amorous advances" toward her. While Okafor has dismissed these claims as fabrications in a viral video, the gravity of the accusation has left the public reeling.
Despite the mounting testimonies, the Lagos State Police Command remains at a standstill. Spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi clarified that while the allegations are swirling on social media, no formal petition has been filed by the victims.
Without a written complaint, the police lack the legal grounds to initiate an arrest or a formal criminal investigation into the matters of rape or assault.
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Inside the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, the mood remains staunchly defensive. Long-term members and subordinate pastors have dismissed the scandal as "spiritual warfare" and a "419" extortion plot. Supporters point to Okafor’s community work, such as road construction, as proof of his character, insisting that the accusations are merely the "next devil" appearing at a "next level" of ministry.
As Okafor begins his month-long absence, the Nigerian Christian leadership has called for sober reflection. Bishop Stephen Adegbite of CAN Lagos warned that "judgment starts in the house of God," urging ministers to live the lives they preach.
Whether Okafor returns to the pulpit in February remains to be seen, as the PFN continues to deliberate on further disciplinary actions behind closed doors.
Punch
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