KEY POINTS
• Pastor Chris Okafor apologised publicly to Doris Ogala during a livestream, admitting mistakes while denying key allegations
• The apology followed Ogala’s arrest, rearrest and eventual release after police intervention in Abuja and Lagos
• The dispute stems from Ogala’s claim that the cleric reneged on a promise of marriage, leading to a N1 billion demand
Pastor Chris Okafor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, popularly known as Grace Nation Liberation City, has issued a public apology to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala after days of controversy that led to her arrest and release by the Nigeria Police.
Okafor made the apology during a livestream shared online on Sunday and later seen by SaharaReporters on X. Speaking directly to viewers, the cleric acknowledged that mistakes had been made, even as he rejected several accusations levelled against him.
“Listen, we are not joining issues. Mistakes have been made in the past. And I tender apology to everybody,” Okafor said during the broadcast.
While expressing regret, the pastor insisted that many of the claims against him were untrue. He described several allegations as false but said his apology was not conditional on public opinion.
“But be it. I say I am sorry to everyone I have offended. To Doris Ogala, I also say sorry,” he said.
Kneeling gesture and offer of restitution
Okafor went further by addressing the apology directly to the church and the public, describing it as both personal and symbolic. He said he was willing to make amends to anyone who felt wronged by his actions.
“I am ready to make restitution to anyone,” he added, before kneeling publicly as part of the apology. He described the gesture as an act of humility before the church and the wider community.
The apology came after Ogala’s dramatic encounter with law enforcement authorities. The actress was initially arrested, granted bail, then rearrested in Abuja before being flown to Lagos by officers from the Zone 2 Command.
Sources said tensions rose when her lawyer, Marshal Abubakar, attempted to document police actions, an effort that allegedly resulted in an assault and the seizure of his phones.
Ogala was eventually released following intervention by activists and community figures. SaharaReporters later learned that Okafor met with the actress at the Zone 2 Command in Onikan, Lagos, where he appealed for peace during a closed door meeting that lasted nearly an hour.
The conflict traces back to Ogala’s claim that Okafor breached a promise to marry her. Through her legal representatives, she demanded N1 billion in damages, citing emotional distress, reputational damage and financial loss.
Ogala alleged that the relationship began in 2017 and involved assurances of marriage, introductions to family members and significant financial transactions, including a reported N45 million transfer.
