Chris Okafor Shuns Police Invitation

Embattled preacher, Pastor Chris Okafor yesterday refused to honour police invitation that mandated him to attend an interview with the Lagos State Deputy Police Commissioner, Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba.

Okafor was invited by the Police Command in a letter dated January 3, which directed that he should submit himself for interrogation on or before 10am yesterday.

But as of 7pm yesterday, detectives at the SCID told The Nation that he was yet to honour the invitation, just as they said his presence was still being awaited till 12am since the police work round the clock.

“We have not seen him yet but we are still waiting because the police work 24 hours daily. So, for now, we cannot say he dared the police. Let’s wait till the end of today, hopefully, he will come,” said a senior officer.

Okafor’s issue with the law followed series of allegations of sexual impropriety, abuse of authority, conduct likely to cause breach of peace and alleged murder from multiple women including his daughter, ex-lovers and members of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracles Ministries he founded.

It was gathered that the Commissioned of Police (CP) Olohundare Jimoh ordered a probe into the matter as more weighty allegations emerged online against the so-called pastor.

Okafor’s disgrace started weeks ago after Nollywood actress, Doris Ogalla, with whom he had an unholy relationship called him out over alleged breach of marriage promise.

The allegatioms with supporting audio-visual “evidences” startled the public, causing an outrage with Nigerians demanding criminal investigation against Okafor.

Okafor who tied the knot with his new bride, Pearl, on December 16, initially dismissed the allegations as the handiwork of his enemies but later admitted to some and tendered a public apology to his congregants before stepping aside as the senior pastor of the church.

Among his accusers are his daughter who alleged she was sexuallt assaulted, his Cameroonian ex-wife with whom he allegedly had four children and multiple women in his congestion including three siblings who claimed to have been hypnotised and impregnated by the randy preacher.

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed that Jimoh had ordered the SCID to invite the cleric for questioning and also summon the alleged victims.

“The CP has directed the SCID to invite the pastor for investigation, despite the fact that no one has formally come forward to report,” she said.

Adebisi said the command was probing the allegations of murder against the preacher following presumed evidences seen on social media. For the sexual assault cases, she appealed to victims to come forward and make formal complaints against Okafor, noting that the police cannot build a rape case when there are no victims, complainants.

Ogalla, who has refused to back down from publicly shaming Okafor, alleged he shared her nude photographs and videos; made her leave her previous marriage, caused the death of her younger brother, along several other accusations.

The actress shared bedroom photos and screenshots of conversations, as well as videos alleging the pastor sent her $10,000 to retract her claims and accuse a rival pastor of orchestrating the scandal.

She later demanded N1 billion in damages through a legal notice filed by her lawyers, alleging threats and intimidation following her arrest and detention by the police.

At the time of this report the police were yet to make an official comment on his refusal to honour lawful invitation.

Source: The Nation

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