The founder and senior pastor of Grace Nation Global, Chris Okafor, has strongly denied a series of allegations made against him, stating that he will clear his name in court.
Speaking during an interaction with a select group of editors at his church in Ojodu, Lagos, the embattled cleric addressed accusations that he abandoned some women after relationships, married another woman, and allegedly had inappropriate relations with one of his daughters. He insisted the claims are false and part of a coordinated attempt to damage his reputation.
According to Okafor, the allegations surfaced shortly after he decided to remarry following several years of remaining single after his divorce from his first wife.
The pastor also revealed that during his previous marriage he discovered through DNA tests that two out of his four children were not biologically his, a revelation he said he kept private for years to protect the family and the children involved.
Okafor maintained that he has never abused or molested any of his children. He argued that if such incidents had occurred, they would have been raised during the divorce proceedings with his former wife at the customary court in Lagos in 2014.
The pastor further claimed that some of the accusations were amplified online by social media personalities, including Nigerian activist VeryDarkMan. According to him, individuals involved later made financial demands, allegedly requesting money for school fees, accommodation, and allowances for the children.
Okafor alleged that the total financial demand amounted to tens of millions of naira when converted from dollar requests. He said the demands strengthened his belief that the accusations were intended to pressure him financially.
He added that he possesses recordings and evidence which he plans to present in court to defend himself against the allegations.
During the interview, the pastor also shared details about his background and the early beginnings of his ministry. He said he grew up in Benin City before attending Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma.
Okafor explained that after graduating, he moved to Lagos where he began preaching and evangelizing on the streets. According to him, the ministry that later became Grace Nation Global started more than two decades ago with small gatherings and counseling sessions before expanding into a large international church network.
He also recounted surviving a kidnapping incident more than a decade ago during a trip in southeastern Nigeria, saying he spent 58 days in captivity before eventually regaining freedom.
Despite the controversies surrounding him, Okafor expressed confidence that the truth would emerge through the legal process. He insisted that the accusations are part of a campaign to damage both his reputation and the ministry he leads.
The cleric concluded by saying he would rely on the courts to determine the facts and that he remains committed to defending his name and the integrity of his church.
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