Televangelist and founder of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministry, Dr Chris Okafor, has raised alarm over what he described as rising cyberbullying and the spread of unverified information online, calling for stronger regulation of Nigeria’s digital space.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, Okafor expressed concern over the activities of bloggers and social media influencers, accusing many of prioritising traffic and engagement over truth, often at the expense of people’s reputations.
His comments follow allegations made in November 2025 by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, who claimed that the cleric had been involved in a long-term relationship with her and failed to fulfil a promise to marry her. Ogala also accused Okafor of being linked to the death of her brother and alleged that the head of an unidentified murdered person was buried at the altar of his church in Ojodu, Lagos State.
Reacting to the controversy, Chris Okafor said the most painful aspect was how bloggers and influencers allegedly amplified the accusations without verification or giving him the opportunity to respond.
“It is so sad that most of the so-called influencers we have often connived with people to come up with fabulous lies to attract traffic to their blogs,” he said. “Many Nigerians have suffered and are still suffering from the lies of bloggers, and most often they get away with it after destroying the image of their targets.”
The cleric lamented that only a few influencers are ever arrested or prosecuted, despite what he described as damaging falsehoods circulated online. He stressed the need for Nigeria to protect its digital environment to prevent innocent citizens from having their reputations ruined by unproven allegations.
Chris Okafor called on the National Assembly to introduce laws regulating online activities and ensuring that offenders are adequately punished to deter others. He also urged cybercrime authorities to intensify efforts to track digital offences and bring perpetrators to justice.
Reflecting on his ordeal, the pastor said many bloggers and members of the public failed to ask critical questions or seek the facts before accepting and spreading allegations against him.
