Keypoints:
- Lagos police have opened a formal rape and sexual offences investigation
- Multiple women have accused a Lagos-based Pentecostal preacher of abuse
- Authorities say victim identities will be protected as inquiries continue
POLICE in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos, have opened a criminal investigation into allegations of rape and other sexual offences against Chris Okafor, a prominent Pentecostal pastor and church founder.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed on Sunday, January 4, that Okafor had been summoned for interrogation at the State Criminal Investigation Department as investigators begin what authorities described as a ‘thorough and comprehensive’ probe.
In a statement, police said the pastor would be questioned over allegations of ‘multiple rape and other sexual offences’, following complaints lodged by several women in recent weeks.
‘Justice must prevail’, police say
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Abimbola Adebisi said law enforcement authorities were treating the matter with urgency while ensuring procedural fairness.
‘Adequate security measures have been put in place, including steps to protect the identities of the alleged victims,’ Adebisi said, adding that investigators were committed to ensuring that ‘justice must prevail’.
Police have not disclosed how many formal complaints have been received, but confirmed that statements and digital evidence linked to the allegations are being reviewed.
Allegations surface on social media
The investigation follows a wave of accusations that emerged on Nigerian social media platforms in December 2025, where several women alleged that the preacher sexually exploited them under the guise of spiritual counselling and personal relationships.
Public scrutiny intensified after Doris Ogala, a Nollywood actress, publicly accused Okafor of abuse. Ogala alleged that she had been involved in a long-term intimate relationship with the pastor from 2017, claiming he promised marriage under false pretences.
She further alleged that the relationship contributed to the breakdown of her previous marriage, accusing the cleric of emotional manipulation and abuse of trust.
Pastor admits ‘mistakes’
Amid mounting public pressure, Okafor addressed his congregation in Lagos in late December, where he acknowledged having made ‘mistakes’ in the past and said he was prepared to take responsibility for his actions.
During the church service, footage of which circulated widely online, the pastor was seen kneeling on the pulpit and asking for forgiveness from society. However, he did not directly respond to the specific rape allegations levelled against him.
Shortly afterwards, Okafor announced that he was stepping aside from his role as lead pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, pending the outcome of police investigations.
Broader accountability debate
The case has reignited debate in Nigeria over accountability within religious institutions, particularly the influence wielded by charismatic pastors and the vulnerability of congregants seeking spiritual or emotional support.
Women’s rights groups and civil society organisations have called on authorities to ensure the investigation is conducted transparently and without interference, stressing that public apologies should not substitute for legal accountability where serious crimes are alleged.
Severe penalties under Nigerian law
Under Nigerian law, an adult convicted of rape faces severe penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment. The minimum custodial sentence for rape is 12 years, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
Police have urged members of the public with relevant information to come forward as investigations continue, while reiterating that all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
