Pastor Chris Okafor and his legal team has escalated the battle over allegations made against him on social media, challenging actress Doris Ogala, social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, also known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), and other bloggers to provide concrete evidence to the Nigeria Police or face criminal charges.
At a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, Ife Ajayi, counsel to the cleric and lead partner at Sovereignty LP, described the allegations as false, malicious, and part of a coordinated campaign of cyberbullying, blackmail, and public incitement aimed at destroying his client’s reputation.
According to Ajayi, the attacks, which resurfaced in December 2025, were started by Doris Ogala and fueled by a network of bloggers, online commentators, and digital platforms, many of whom, he claims, failed to obtain Pastor Okafor’s reaction before publishing harmful allegations.
“Our client is a private citizen and a law-abiding Nigerian. What we have witnessed over the past months is not advocacy or responsible journalism, but a calculated attempt to try him in the court of public opinion,” Ajayi said.
Ajayi revealed that the issue arose in late 2024, following a business arrangement between Ogala and a third party.
According to him, Pastor Okafor later withdrew from the arrangement after realizing that the desired objective could not be reached.
Ogala claimed on social media that the preacher owed her ₦45 million, which he dismissed as false.
The story, he said, soon changed to assertions of a romantic involvement, monetary demands, and more serious allegations verging on criminal action.
“Each time one allegation failed to gain traction, another more outrageous one followed. It was a systematic attempt to see what would stick,” the lawyer said.
He said that the attacks escalated on the eve of Pastor Okafor’s wedding in December 2025, when Ogala allegedly questioned his right to marry and sought compensation, first in cash and then in the form of a house.
Ajayi revealed that Ogala had previously been arrested and charged with cyberstalking, cyberbullying, and threats based on similar online behavior. He stated that the dispute was handled through an out-of-court settlement that was approved by the court.
According to Ajayi, the settlement stipulated that Ogala receive an agreed-upon payment and never contact, speak with, or reference Pastor Okafor in public for any reason.
“At no point during those proceedings did she allege rape, sexual assault, or an affair. Those claims were never made until after the settlement was reached and allegedly breached,” he stated.
He further stated that Pastor Okafor relinquished his right to continue the prosecution in the interest of peace but was later subjected to continued internet attacks in breach of the agreement.
According to Ajayi, complaints were then filed with the Nigeria Police over what he described as public incitement, blackmail, and internet harassment.
He stated that Ogala was caught again shortly before Christmas 2025 and probed by police in Lagos.
During interrogation, Ajayi said that she denied creating some of the most severe charges made about her online, such as assertions that Pastor Okafor was engaged in a death supposedly buried on church grounds or that his wife was forced to marry.
“She denied these allegations in the presence of police officers and requested legal representation before making her statement.
She was eventually given administrative release on medical grounds and admonished not to make false accusations on social media again,” Ajayi stated.
He claimed that despite the warning, the internet attacks continued, with new narratives involving alleged sexual offenses and the portrayal of persons as victims.
Ajayi accused VDM and other venues, including a podcast, of misusing their power by collecting public complaints and presenting them online as established facts.
“You cannot be the accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge all at once. If there is an allegation of rape, murder, or abuse, the law is clear on where it should be reported,” he said.
He stated that formal criminal complaints have been made against those involved in disseminating the allegations and that the legal team is monitoring hundreds of social media accounts suspected of coordinating the narrative.
Ajayi further criticized several media sites for posting the claims without verifying or balancing comments, accusing them of profiting from sensational content at the price of due process.
The lawyer emphasized that Pastor Okafor had completely cooperated with police investigations, accepting invitations and providing what he described as “irrefutable evidence” to refute charges of rape, child abuse, and murder.
He said the Lagos State Commissioner of Police authorized the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, to handle the case, and that his client reported freely and was released after answering all questions.
“There was never a case of evading arrest or refusing a police invitation. That narrative was another falsehood pushed online,” Ajayi said.
In a direct challenge, Ajayi urged Ogala, VDM, and others to turn over their allegations, witnesses, and evidence to the police.
“If they believe these allegations are true, let them swear to them under oath and present proof to law enforcement. Otherwise, we will pursue all available legal remedies,” he warned.
Ajayi also mentioned a recent media story by the online platform SaharaReporters in which a faceless woman claimed to have been raped by Chris Okafor, stating that the news was part of a scheme to further destroy his client’s image.
He claimed that the entire scenario amounts to guilt by allegation and serves no purpose other than to slander and damage his client’s reputation.
He regarded the ongoing dissemination of unverified accusations as dangerous, saying that Pastor Okafor, his wife, and family members had received threatening threats as a result of the web campaign.
Ajayi encouraged the public to remain calm and allow the police to complete their investigation, warning against mob justice motivated by social media tales.
“This is a society governed by law. Social media outrage cannot replace investigation, evidence, and trial,” he said.
He emphasized that, while Pastor Okafor will not be intimidated or blackmailed, the legal team is dedicated to holding individuals who propagate false charges accountable.
“The truth may be delayed, but it will prevail,” Ajayi said.
