The Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, Chris Okafor, has stepped down from his pastoral duties following mounting pressure from leaders within the Christian community over multiple sexual misconduct allegations against him.
The development comes amid widespread public outrage triggered by accusations from actress Doris Ogala and several other women, which have gained traction on social media in recent weeks.
Sources close to the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) confirmed that respected Christian leaders prevailed on the cleric to temporarily vacate his position in a bid to calm tensions and allow room for further actions.
A senior PFN executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that Okafor’s decision to step aside was part of internal disciplinary pressure and that more measures were being considered.
“There are more things to be done in terms of disciplinary actions,” the source said.
According to the official, deliberations within the PFN have been slowed by the festive period, as formal meetings could not be convened to address the growing scandal.
“Meetings could not be held to deliberate on actions against him. But from the pressure from some 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 source added.
The PFN official clarified that the fellowship does not have the statutory powers to investigate or prosecute criminal allegations, stressing that such responsibilities rest with law enforcement agencies.
“If there is an allegation of rape against a pastor, it is not the PFN that should investigate it. This is a criminal case, and the government should step in,” the source said, adding that PFN’s role was limited to spiritual discipline and moral pressure.
He, however, noted that the fellowship was engaging the matter quietly and that Okafor’s temporary withdrawal from pastoral duties was part of those behind-the-scenes efforts.
“When we saw the enormity of the allegations and that it was beginning to look like a criminal matter, we had to do our part, while the government also plays its role,” he stated.
The controversy intensified after Okafor, during a church service last Sunday, publicly apologised to actress Ogala, kneeling on the pulpit and admitting to past “mistakes.”
The apology came shortly after the cleric’s wedding to a new bride, identified simply as Pearl, on December 16, 2025. The ceremony was attended by prominent clerics and reportedly held despite Ogala’s viral accusations of betrayal, emotional manipulation and reneging on a promise of marriage after a long-term relationship.
Addressing his congregation during the church’s New Year crossover service on Wednesday night, Okafor said his decision to step down was based on spiritual reasons rather than external pressure.
“I will be resting. It will be time for personal retreat with God and time for me and my wife to rest,” he said, adding that the break would last until February, although he would not be completely absent from church activities.
The allegations against the pastor first surfaced on December 14, when Ogala released a series of emotional videos on Instagram, accusing Okafor of a sexual relationship that allegedly began in 2017 and lasted for nine years.
She alleged that the cleric repeatedly promised her marriage before marrying another woman, accused him of sharing her explicit photos and videos, and claimed he contributed to the breakdown of her previous marriage, emotional trauma and financial loss.
Ogala also alleged attempts to induce her silence, claiming the pastor sent her $10,000 to retract her statements. She later demanded N1bn in damages through a legal notice, citing threats and intimidation following her arrest and detention by the police.
As the scandal escalated, other women also came forward with similar allegations. Okafor’s former wife, Bessem Okafor, accused him of infidelity, deception and physical assault, saying she left the marriage 14 years ago due to shame.
Another woman, identified as Ebere and described as a former member of the church choir, alleged a long-term secret relationship with the pastor beginning around 2015. She claimed she had multiple abortions for him and later bore a child after keeping one pregnancy.
More recently, another lady alleged that the cleric had sexual relations with her and her sister, resulting in pregnancies, and called for DNA tests to substantiate her claims.
As public scrutiny intensifies, PFN sources say further sanctions against the pastor are being considered, pending internal deliberations and possible action by law enforcement agencies.