Nollywood actress and member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria, Doris Ogala, has formally demanded ₦1 billion in damages from Pastor Chris Okafor.
Pastor Chris Okafor is the founder of Grace Nation International, formerly known as Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry. The actress accused the cleric of breaching an alleged promise to marry her.
The Legal Demand
On December 16, 2025, Ogala’s lawyers from Synergy Law Partners sent a pre-action letter to Pastor Okafor, giving him 21 days to pay the sum as compensation for aggravated and general damages.
Failure to comply, the letter warned, would lead to a lawsuit in a court of competent jurisdiction.
The lawyers emphasized that while marriage cannot be enforced, Nigerian law allows remedies for breach of promise, especially when it causes significant emotional, reputational, and financial harm.
Background of the Alleged Relationship
The relationship reportedly began in 2017 when Ogala, amid marital distress, sought pastoral guidance from Okafor.
According to the letter, he allegedly made repeated, unambiguous promises of marriage, reinforced by actions such as introducing her to his family (including his children) and inviting her to family events.
Evidence cited includes photographs, videos, WhatsApp conversations, and financial records that purportedly support her claims of a legitimate expectation of marriage.
Claims of Detriment and Financial Loss
Ogala alleges she acted to her detriment by relying on the promise: she ended her previous troubled marriage, forgoing reconciliation opportunities, believing a secure future awaited with Okafor.
She also claims to have transferred ₦45 million to him in one transaction, granting him access to her finances based on the trust built in the relationship.
The Trigger: Public Engagement and Marriage
The dispute intensified when Pastor Okafor announced his engagement and subsequently married another woman, identified as Pearl, in a ceremony on December 16, 2025, in Lekki, Lagos.
Ogala’s lawyers described this as a “calculated and publicly executed breach,” causing severe emotional distress, psychological harm, and reputational damage to her as a public figure.
The letter further accuses Okafor of responsibility for the unauthorized circulation of her private photographs, leading to online harassment and victim-shaming.
Pastor’s Response and Current Status
Pastor Okafor has not issued a direct public response to the legal demand as of December 18, 2025.
Earlier, during a church sermon, he indirectly addressed similar allegations by stating no man would choose to marry an “arrogant” woman.
Efforts to reach him or his team for comment on the demand have been unsuccessful.
The controversy has sparked widespread online debate, with mixed reactions to both parties’ actions.