Lagos Police explain decision to suspend sexual assault investigation involving Pastor Chris Okafor

The Lagos State Police Command has explained why it has temporarily suspended its investigation into allegations of rape and other related offences involving Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Olohundare Jimoh, had ordered that Pastor Okafor be investigated and directed him to report to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti. However, the matter was later transferred to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of Zone 2, Sylvester Alabi, for further handling.

Providing an update on the situation, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said the command halted its probe after invited complainants failed to honour police invitations. She also noted that the Lagos Command could not conduct a parallel investigation while the case was already being handled by Zone 2 under the supervision of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

“There has not been further investigation from the command,” Adebisi said. “He was invited and came around, and that was when we discovered that there were similar petitions already under investigation at Zone 2. Based on that, the Commissioner of Police directed that we halt our own investigation.”

She added that efforts to reach complainants had been unsuccessful, with none appearing for questioning. According to her, the command will wait for the outcome of the Zone 2 investigation before deciding on the next line of action.

“For now, we are not pressing further. We are waiting. When Zone 2 is done, we will know the next step,” she said, adding that Pastor Okafor was released on self-recognition to proceed to Zone 2.

The controversy surrounding Pastor Okafor began in December 2025, when actress Doris Ogala accused him of reneging on a promise of marriage and causing her emotional distress. As more allegations surfaced, the cleric issued a public apology to Ms Ogala and other women he said he had wronged.

During the dispute, Pastor Okafor also accused his ex-wife, Bessem, of adultery, an allegation she denied. She, in turn, claimed she suffered physical abuse during their marriage.

Amid the growing public scrutiny, Pastor Okafor announced that he would step aside from ministerial duties for one month.