The Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor, has stepped down from pastoral duties amid a firestorm of sexual allegations that has rocked Nigeria’s Pentecostal community and sparked intense debate about accountability within the church.
The dramatic development came after respected leaders in the Christian community, particularly within the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), applied what one insider described as “spiritual pressure” to force the embattled cleric to temporarily relinquish his pulpit.
The Pressure Campaign
A senior PFN executive, speaking to Saturday PUNCH, revealed the behind-the-scenes maneuvering that led to Okafor’s departure. “From the pressure from some of the leaders in the body of Christ, he has stepped down for a month. I believe that before the month ends, some decisions would have been made concerning him,” the official stated, making clear this wasn’t a voluntary sabbatical but a forced timeout.
The source added ominously: “There are more things to be done in terms of disciplinary actions,” suggesting Okafor’s troubles are far from over. However, the official was careful to clarify the limits of PFN’s authority: “We are not the police, nor are we a law enforcement agency. If there is an allegation of rape against a pastor, it is not the PFN that should investigate it.”
Okafor’s Spin: Honeymoon or Hiding?
Facing his congregation during the New Year crossover service on Wednesday night, Okafor offered a strikingly different narrative. According to him, the break was about romance and spiritual renewal, not scandal management.
“I will be resting. It would be time for personal retreat with God and time for me and my wife to rest,” Okafor told his flock. “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.”
The carefully crafted explanation made no mention of the mounting allegations or the pressure from church leaders that actually precipitated his departure—a classic case of controlling the narrative even while being forced off the stage.
The Allegations Keep Coming
The scandal erupted publicly when actress Doris Ogala posted emotional videos accusing Okafor of a nine-year sexual relationship that began in 2017, complete with promises of marriage that evaporated when he wed another woman, identified as Pearl, on December 16, 2025.
But Ogala’s accusations opened floodgates. Okafor’s former wife, Bessem Okafor, came forward with claims of infidelity, deception and physical assault that drove her from the marriage 14 years ago. A former choir member named Ebere alleged a relationship that resulted in four abortions before she finally kept one pregnancy. Another woman claimed Okafor had sexual relations with both her and her sister, resulting in children who allegedly resemble the pastor.
Perhaps most disturbing, social media activist VeryDarkMan shared an audio clip in which a woman claiming to be Okafor’s daughter accused him of making amorous advances toward her in their home, forcing her to flee in 2020.
Why No Arrests?
Despite the proliferation of allegations across social media, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi made clear why Okafor remains free: “If there is any, the department handling it would have briefed me. Anyone with a petition can come forward.”
In Nigeria’s legal system, police typically don’t act on social media accusations alone—formal petitions and complaints are required to trigger investigations. The women making allegations haven’t yet taken that crucial step, leaving Okafor in a legal limbo where his reputation suffers but his liberty remains intact.
The Faithful Stand By Their Man
When Saturday PUNCH visited the church headquarters in Lagos, the response from members was telling. Ruben Alufe, a 20-year member, dismissed everything as blackmail: “Pastor Okafor is a good man of God. Forget what the world is saying. They just want to blackmail him.”
Another member blamed the timing: “Did you hear all these things before he got married? Did you see anything like that online? That tells you that what the bloggers are saying is not true. Those behind the allegations are simply 419 people. They are just looking for money.”
An unnamed church pastor framed it as spiritual warfare: “For most of these things, several other men of God have gone through similar periods because if there is a next level, there will definitely be a next devil.”
What Christian Leaders Are Saying
Bishop Stephen Adegbite, Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria’s Lagos chapter, offered measured wisdom: “Ministers must do as I do and not do as I say because judgment will start in the house of God.” He noted that if a pastor genuinely repents and accepts restitution, the church could consider restoration.
Archbishop Osazee William took a more defensive posture, suggesting pastors face unfair scrutiny: “People do worse things than this, but once it involves a pastor, it takes a different dimension. Pastors are human beings.”
As Okafor begins his forced “retreat,” the question remains: will this month-long break lead to genuine accountability and investigation, or will it simply be a cooling-off period before business as usual resumes? The answer may determine whether Nigeria’s church leadership is serious about addressing misconduct in its ranks—or merely expert at managing scandal.