A Nigerian pastor has defended Pastor Chris Okafor following allegations of a romantic relationship involving actress Doris Ogala, arguing that responsibility in such matters should not be placed on clerics alone and that church members bear equal accountability.
Pastor Gideon Chika Onyeudo, popularly known as Beloved Onyeudo, who leads Christ Divine Worship Assembly International, shared his opinion in a video posted on his Facebook page on December 23, 2025.
In the video circulating online, Pastor Onyeudo questioned public outrage directed at religious leaders, suggesting that accountability should apply equally to church members involved in alleged relationships with pastors.
If you’re saying why should a pastor sleep with a member, then why should a member sleep with him, he said, questioning why pastors face harsher judgment than members for the same alleged conduct.
The cleric alleged that individuals sharing videos and commentary linked to the actress were enemies of the church who were seeking to undermine it. One lady, they call Doris Ogara, Ogara, Ogala, came out and is talking against Chris Okafor. Anybody peddling those videos or peddling those nonsense is either you are an anti-Christ or you have been an enemy of the church for a long time, he said.
He claimed those behind the allegations do not love Jesus and are bent on causing division by attacking the shepherd so the flock will scatter. According to Pastor Onyeudo, the controversy would ultimately help Pastor Okafor identify genuine members of his congregation.
He added that if the alleged relationship had resulted in marriage, it would not have generated the same backlash, arguing that the criticism stemmed from the fact that it did not. He noted that if Okafor had married the actress, the matter would not have attracted criticism, but because the alleged affair did not lead to marriage, he is now being labelled fake.
The pastor further stated that both pastors and church members would face the same divine judgment for wrongdoing, insisting that it is the same hellfire for all sinners. He described the situation as sinners judging others for sinning differently.
He concluded by warning that critics were seeking the collapse of churches and urged religious institutions to protect themselves rather than joining public condemnation based on unproven claims. He explained that enemies of the church often wait for negative news to confirm their suspicions.
The defence comes amid a complex legal and public relations crisis involving Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of Grace Nation Liberation City, also known as the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, and actress Doris Ogala, a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.
Ogala was arrested on Saturday, December 20, 2025, by the Lagos State Police after publicly accusing Okafor of failing to fulfil a marriage promise. She was released on Monday afternoon, December 23, after spending two nights in police custody, where the pastor allegedly requested a peaceful resolution.
Through her lawyers, Synergy Law Partners, Ogala issued a formal demand dated December 16, 2025, seeking N1 billion in aggravated damages over an alleged breach of promise to marry. The letter gave Pastor Okafor 21 days to pay the sum or face a lawsuit.
According to the legal demand, Ogala alleged that Pastor Okafor made a clear, consistent and unequivocal promise to marry her, which formed the basis of a long-standing personal relationship that began in 2017. The relationship allegedly commenced when the actress was experiencing emotional distress and seeking pastoral support.
Ogala also claimed she entrusted Pastor Okafor with N45 million in a single transaction, allegedly granting him access to her financial affairs based on the relationship and promise of marriage. The dispute escalated when Pastor Okafor publicly announced his engagement to another woman, which Ogala’s lawyers described as a clear repudiation of the alleged promise.
Addressing his church members during a marriage thanksgiving on Sunday, December 22, Pastor Okafor said he that alleges must prove, explaining that God instructed him to remain silent on the matter. Though it can be painful that you are misrepresented for what you are not, what you have never seen or known in your life. We leave it there for now. We will never dignify a mad devil by replying. That would amount to glorifying the devil, he stated.
In subsequent remarks, Pastor Okafor hinted that his congregation would be shocked by the people backing Doris Ogala. Everything you say, you must prove it in the law court. Don’t worry, we are not quiet. We are praying and following the mature way we should follow. The truth will come out. Because the authorities are on it, I can’t say much in public. You will be surprised by the people involved, he said.
The controversy expanded to involve social media activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, who called for Ogala’s release and threatened to make public alleged criminal evidence against Pastor Okafor. While calling for Doris’s release before Tuesday, December 23, 2025, VeryDarkMan vowed to release alleged scandalous evidence against the pastor.
Ogala also gave Pastor Okafor a 24 hour ultimatum to withdraw his lawsuit against VeryDarkMan and issue an apology. Her intervention came after Pastor Okafor’s legal team confirmed plans to proceed with a lawsuit against VeryDarkMan over allegations made by a woman identified as Miss Chi, who claimed to be the cleric’s biological daughter. Okafor denied the claim, insisting DNA evidence disproves the allegation.
In a separate interview on the KAA Truths podcast, Ogala called on the Department of State Services (DSS) to investigate claims surrounding an alleged death at Okafor’s church during a construction project. She alleged that the building collapsed during construction and someone died, further claiming that Pastor Okafor contacted her privately asking for advice on handling the situation.
Updating the public on December 24, Ogala disclosed that talks and resolution are ongoing. Talks is going on now, resolution is ongoing at the moment. I’m still in Lagos, I’m not back in Abuja. I want to know where it’s heading, and I want to know the end of this table talk, she said.
The controversy has generated widespread public debate on social media about accountability, pastoral ethics and the dynamics of power in religious settings. While some have supported Pastor Onyeudo’s argument about shared responsibility, others have criticized the defense as minimizing pastoral duty and the power dynamics inherent in clergy-congregant relationships.
