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By Oscar Okhifo
Pastor Chris Okafor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, Surulere, Lagos has publicly apologized to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, following days of controversy that led to her arrest and later released by the Nigeria Police.
The cleric made the apology during a viral sermon video, acknowledging past mistakes while disputing some of the allegations levelled against him.
“Mistakes have been made in the past, and I tender my apology to everybody. But everything that was said is not true. There are so many lies in most of the things that were said,” Okafor said, adding that he was ready to make amends to anyone he had offended. “To Doris Ogala, I also say sorry. I am ready to make restitution,” he stated.
Okafor knelt before his congregation as he appealed for public forgiveness, saying, “I’m kneeling down before everyone, Forgive me. You can judge me. Pray for me,” underscoring his call for reconciliation and prayers.
The dispute reportedly began after Ogala accused the cleric of breaching an alleged promise to marry her and later marrying another woman.
Through her lawyers at Synergy Law Partners, she earlier demanded N1 billion in damages, citing emotional distress, reputational harm, and financial loss.
Responding to Okafor’s apology on social media, Ogala wrote that she had accepted his apology but also disputed his claim that “everything” she said was untrue.
“Chris Okafor, I forgive you, but there’s a problem. Where you said everything is a lie. I have a problem with that because I don’t lie,” she posted.
In the same reaction, the actress urged that Okafor should not have knelt in making the apology, saying her focus was on accountability and acknowledgment rather than public spectacle.
Ogala has been vocal on social media throughout the saga, including rejecting a reported settlement offer and maintaining that her accounts of the relationship and its impact on her life are truthful.
The developments have generated widespread attention across social and traditional media in Nigeria, with many following both the legal and personal dimensions of the dispute.