In a dramatic turn of events, the senior pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, Dr. Chris Okafor, has publicly challenged a woman claiming to be his biological daughter to undergo a DNA test to prove her assertions. The clergyman has firmly denied any paternal link and issued a stern ultimatum, threatening legal action for what he terms criminal defamation and cyber harassment.
Public Denial and Legal Ultimatum
Through his legal representative, Barrister Maxwell Opara, Pastor Okafor addressed journalists at a press conference held in Owerri on Wednesday. He categorically refuted being the father of the individual identifying herself as Ms. Chi Okafor and her sibling. The pastor insisted that the children are the products of infidelity by his estranged wife.
Barrister Opara stated that the claims made online by Ms. Chi Okafor regarding abandonment and neglect of paternal duties are entirely false and constitute a malicious campaign. "Any assertion suggesting that our Client abandoned a spouse or children is therefore false, misleading, defamatory, and constitutes cyber bullying," he declared.
List of Formal Demands Issued
The legal team presented a set of non-negotiable demands to the alleged daughter:
- An immediate retraction of all defamatory statements published online and elsewhere.
- A written public apology to be published in two national newspapers.
- An immediate cessation from presenting herself as having any familial relationship with Pastor Okafor.
- The removal of all online content falsely linking him to paternity or abandonment claims.
- Submission of herself and her sibling for a DNA test at a reputable health facility, especially if she cannot produce a prior DNA certificate she allegedly possesses.
"We therefore state categorically, emphatically, and unequivocally that the claims made by the so-called Ms. Chi Okafor are entirely false, misleading, malicious, inciting, and gravely injurious to the personality and character of our Client," Barrister Opara emphasized.
Threat of Legal Action and Warning to Social Media Influencers
Pastor Okafor's legal counsel issued a clear warning that failure to comply with these demands would force their client to pursue all available legal remedies to protect his reputation, integrity, and ministry. The pastor's team described the online publications as acts of cyber incitement, cyberstalking, and malicious impersonation.
Furthermore, the pastor issued a direct warning to social media commentators, including one Martins Vincent Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMan) and Ms. Doris Ogala, to desist from aiding the propagation of these alleged falsehoods through their platforms. The statement aimed to halt the spread of the narrative and reaffirm the pastor's commitment to truth and dignity.
The case has sparked significant public interest, highlighting the intersection of personal family disputes, the reputation of public religious figures, and the powerful role of social media in shaping narratives. The ball is now in the court of Ms. Chi Okafor to either present conclusive evidence through a DNA test or face potential litigation for defamation.
