“Who Will Marry Me Now?” — Doris Ogala Accuses Pastor Chris Okafor of Ruining Her Life Amid Engagement Row

Nollywood actress Doris Ogala has accused Lagos-based cleric Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, also known as Liberation City, of emotional and psychological abuse following the circulation of a video announcing his engagement to another woman.

In a series of emotional videos shared on her Instagram page over the weekend, Ms Ogala alleged that she had been in a relationship with Mr Okafor since 2017 and claimed that his decision to marry another woman had left her devastated. She accused the cleric of ruining her life, breaking her heart and subjecting her to actions she said contributed to severe emotional trauma.

The actress alleged that Mr Okafor shared private materials relating to her, including a video of a miscarriage she claimed she had for him, which she said was misrepresented as an abortion. She also alleged that intimate videos involving her were circulated without her consent. According to her, these actions, alongside the end of their relationship, pushed her into depression and emotional instability.

Ms Ogala further claimed that her condition worsened after the death of her younger brother, insisting that she had not been the same person since the relationship ended. She said she had contemplated suicide and questioned how she could move on with her life if Mr Okafor went ahead with his marriage plans.

In the videos, the actress vowed to disrupt the cleric’s planned church wedding, alleging that he had pressured her to leave her former marriage with promises of marrying her. She said she complied at the time, only to later feel abandoned and disgraced. Repeatedly asking who would marry her now, she accused Mr Okafor of turning her life upside down and taking everything from her.

Mr Okafor has not directly addressed the specific allegations made by the actress. However, during a sermon on Sunday, a video of which later circulated on social media, the cleric spoke broadly about marriage, stating that no man would choose to marry an arrogant or unsubmissive woman. He also claimed that character, teachability and reputation were key qualities men seek in a wife, adding that many women desire marriage without developing what he described as the capacity to be a good wife.

Quoting the Bible, Mr Okafor said men are not looking for women but for wives, arguing that submission and good conduct should precede marriage. His comments have since generated widespread reactions online, with many social media users linking the sermon to the ongoing controversy.

Mr Okafor was previously married to Bessem Okafor. In 2014, his ex-wife accused him of physically assaulting her at their Magodo residence in Lagos, allegations that were reported by local media. She had left the marital home in 2012 and claimed the assault occurred when she visited to see their four children, who were in his custody.

In a 2019 interview, Mr Okafor said he had not remarried after the divorce, explaining that he was cautious about remarrying because of concerns for his children’s safety and family values. He also said remarriage was uncommon in his family and that he did not wish to break that pattern.