Pastor Chris Okafor Laments Cyberbullying, Urges Tougher Laws on Bloggers

Televangelist and Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry founder, Dr Chris Okafor, has called for stricter regulation of Nigeria’s online space, citing sustained cyberbullying and what he described as coordinated smear campaigns against his person.

Okafor made the appeal on Thursday at a media briefing in Lagos, where he criticised bloggers and online influencers for spreading unverified allegations and fuelling public attacks.

He urged the National Assembly to enact laws that would regulate internet activities and ensure punishment for offenders.

The pastor’s comments follow public accusations levelled against him in November 2025 by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, who alleged a prolonged romantic relationship, a broken promise of marriage, and claims linking him to the death of her brother. She also accused him of concealing evidence of another alleged murder within his church premises in Ojodu, Lagos.

Reacting to the controversy, Okafor said he was subjected to online condemnation without an opportunity to present his side, describing the experience as a media trial driven by sensational content creation. He argued that misinformation on digital platforms had damaged many reputations without consequence for perpetrators.

He further called on cybercrime enforcement agencies to intensify efforts in tracing and prosecuting internet-related offences, warning that unchecked digital abuse could harm innocent citizens.

Narrating his personal ordeal, the cleric questioned inconsistencies in the accusations against him. He said the same individual accusing him of murder had also expressed distress over his intention to marry another person, adding that the sequence of events raised unanswered questions.

Okafor disclosed that disputes involving his former wife also surfaced after his remarriage plans became public. He stated that during their divorce proceedings in 2014 at an Ikeja court, the marriage was dissolved on grounds of irreconcilable differences, and custody of their children was granted to him. He added that no allegations of abuse were raised during the court process.

The pastor said his former wife and daughter had recently approached a blogger seeking financial support for overseas schooling and upkeep, which he claimed contradicted accusations made against him.

Okafor reassured his congregation and the public that the truth would ultimately emerge, stressing that he had never been arrested or convicted of any criminal offence in his lifetime.