Maxwell Okpara, legal counsel to Dr. Chris Okafor, Senior Pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries (also known as Grace Nation Liberation City), has issued a warning to self-styled activist Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, and a young woman identifying herself as Miss Chi, who claims to be Pastor Okafor’s daughter.
Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Okpara demanded an immediate halt to what he described as cyber attacks, bullying, harassment, stalking, and criminal defamation targeting his client.
He called for:
- Immediate retraction of all false and defamatory statements about Pastor Okafor
- Publication of an apology in two national newspapers, with copies sent to relevant authorities
- Cessation of claims implying any familial relationship with Okafor
- Submission of Miss Chi and her sibling to a DNA test at a mutually agreed reputable facility
- Removal of all online content falsely linking Pastor Okafor to paternity or abandonment claims
Okpara warned that failure to comply would leave Pastor Okafor with no option but to pursue all available legal remedies to protect his reputation, integrity, and ministry.
Full Statement by Maxwell Okpara:
“We are counsel to Pastor Dr. Chris Okafor, hereinafter referred to as Our Client, on whose instructions and authority we issue this press briefing in conjunction with concerned members of civil society groups.
It has come to our notice, as well as to public attention, that acts of cyber incitement, cyber bullying, cyber harassment, cyber stalking, criminal defamation, and malicious impersonation have been perpetrated against our Client by Martins Vincent Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMan) and a young lady who introduced herself as Miss Chi.
You may recall that earlier acts of cyber bullying and libellous publications were initiated by one Ms. Doris Ogala and her cohorts. However, our focus here is not on her narrative. It is, however, worrisome that a fresh wave of disparaging stories emerged, maliciously targeting the personality of our Client.
We have become aware that an individual who identifies herself as Ms. Chi Okafor has been presenting herself online as the biological daughter of our Client, Pastor Dr. Chris Okafor. She has been making false, misleading, and defamatory claims regarding his personal life and family relationships, including allegations of abandonment and neglect of paternal responsibilities.
Ordinarily, our Client would not respond to the antics of these individuals. He is fully aware of the agenda of those sponsoring them to damage his ministry. However, he has decided to respond specifically to the false claim by the said Miss Chi that she is his biological daughter, to set the record straight.
We therefore state categorically that the claims made by the so-called Ms. Chi Okafor are entirely false, misleading, malicious, and injurious to the personality and character of our Client.
Several years ago, during the early stage of his pastoral journey, a woman approached him alleging pregnancy. Pastor Okafor accepted responsibility and married her. However, due to her subsequent conduct and a traumatic kidnapping ordeal in which she misappropriated ransom funds, the marriage was dissolved after DNA tests confirmed that neither child was biologically related to Pastor Okafor. Despite this, he continued to support their education and welfare, a gesture that should not be misinterpreted as acknowledgment of paternity.
Any assertion suggesting that our Client abandoned a spouse or children is therefore false, misleading, defamatory, and constitutes cyber bullying.
Accordingly, we demand:
- Immediate retraction of all false, defamatory statements, and publication of apologies
- Cessation of claims implying familial relationships
- Submission to DNA testing if no prior certificate is produced
- Removal of all online content falsely associating Pastor Okafor with paternity or abandonment
Failure to comply will compel our Client to pursue all available legal remedies to protect his reputation, integrity, and ministry.
This statement is issued to clarify the facts, prevent further dissemination of falsehoods, and reaffirm our Client’s unwavering commitment to truth, dignity, and fairness.”
