The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that rape allegations against popular cleric, Pastor Chris Okafor, have been transferred to the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters through the Zone 2 Police Command for further investigation.
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, disclosed this on Wednesday while speaking with journalists. He explained that the decision followed the discovery that the same allegations were already under investigation at a higher level of the police hierarchy.
Pastor Okafor, who is the Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries, was earlier invited by the Lagos Command to appear before the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). According to Jimoh, the cleric initially sent word through his lawyer that he would honour the invitation on Monday.
“We waited for him on Monday, but he didn’t show up,” the commissioner said, adding that the police subsequently directed that Okafor be arrested. He noted that the pastor later appeared at the command on Tuesday.
However, the Lagos Command later confirmed that the case had already been opened and was being handled by the Zone 2 Police Command under the supervision of the Assistant Inspector General of Police.
“I verified from the AIG in charge of Zone 2 that the matter has been under investigation for about three weeks,” Jimoh said. “Since the AIG is my immediate supervisor and already handling the case, we handed the matter over to Zone 2.”
The commissioner also stressed that the police would not disregard allegations and testimonies circulating on social media, noting that digital platforms have become important channels for reporting complaints.
“Social media has become a veritable space for people to lodge complaints,” he said. “We no longer wait for people to physically report before acting in the public interest, especially when inaction could lead to a breakdown of law and order.”
Investigations into the allegations are ongoing under the Zone 2 Police Command.
Background
In December 2025, Pastor Okafor publicly apologised to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala following a controversy linked to a marriage dispute that led to her arrest and subsequent release by the police. During a church service, the cleric admitted that mistakes had been made while maintaining that many of the allegations against him were untrue.
“I apologise to everyone I have offended, including Doris Ogala,” Okafor said, adding that he was ready to make restitution where necessary.
The apology came amid wider allegations, including claims by a former church member, identified as Ama, who accused Okafor of raping her when she was 15 years old, impregnating her, and later sexually abusing the daughter born from the alleged assault. Ama and her daughter have both spoken publicly about their experiences.
The police say all allegations are being thoroughly investigated.
