In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s online community, Pastor Dr. Chris Okafor, the influential Senior Pastor of the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries (also known as Grace Nation Liberation City), has formally warned popular social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), to immediately cease alleged cyber attacks, defamatory posts, and malicious online conduct — or risk facing full legal action to protect his reputation, ministry, and personal integrity.
This story has quickly become one of the most talked-about controversies in Nigerian digital news for 2025, provoking intense debate over online ethics, accountability, defamation laws, and the influence of internet activism on public figures.
The Background: Who Is Pastor Chris Okafor?
Pastor Chris Okafor is a well-known Nigerian cleric, founder of one of the country’s most influential charismatic ministries — the Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries. Over the years, he has established a large following through radio broadcasts, television appearances, and public ministry across Nigeria and beyond.
His ministry, often referred to as Grace Nation Liberation City, has made significant marks in spiritual teachings, community outreach, and social impact programs. As a respected religious leader, Pastor Okafor’s reputation carries not only spiritual authority but public influence — making any allegation against him immediately newsworthy and consequential for his followers and critics alike.
The Controversy: Viral Claims of Paternity
At the heart of the current dispute are viral online claims circulating on social media platforms that Pastor Okafor is allegedly the biological father of a woman identifying herself as Ms. Chi Okafor.
According to the woman’s statements, which were amplified by VeryDarkMan and others, she claims Pastor Okafor abandoned her and failed to fulfill his parental responsibilities. The interview and its subsequent spread ignited a frenzy across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok — rapidly generating discussions, debates, and speculation across digital communities.
But Pastor Okafor’s legal team strongly disputes these allegations.
Okafor’s Legal Team Hits Back: Defamation and Cyber Attacks
On December 24, 2025, a press briefing was held at the NUJ Centre in Owerri, Imo State, where Pastor Okafor’s counsel, Maxwell Okpara (also spelled Opara in some reports), addressed journalists and digital audiences regarding the mounting accusations.
During the briefing, Okpara described the online acts by VeryDarkMan and the woman identifying as Miss Chi as:
Cyber incitement
Cyberbullying
Cyber harassment
Cyber stalking
Criminal defamation
Malicious impersonation
These are serious legal descriptions that suggest potential violations of Nigeria’s cybercrime laws and civil defamation statutes — and they form the basis of the formal warning issued to VDM and the other parties involved.
Okpara stated that all defamatory content must be immediately retracted, that public apologies should be published in two national newspapers, and that relevant authorities should be notified of the correction. He also demanded the complete removal of online posts falsely claiming a familial relationship between Pastor Okafor and Ms. Chi.
The Central Demand: DNA Test Challenge
Perhaps the most provocative element of Pastor Okafor’s response is the call for a DNA test.
According to his legal team, there was a past incident in which a DNA test was reportedly conducted when claims of paternity were first raised — and the results allegedly showed that the woman and her sibling were not biologically related to the pastor. These results, the legal team insists, remain in the possession of the woman’s mother.
Okafor’s counsel has publicly challenged Ms. Chi and her sibling to submit themselves for a fresh DNA test at a mutually agreed reputable medical facility — a move aimed at scientifically resolving the matter once and for all. The pastor’s team emphasized that this step is necessary to dispel rumors, put speculation to rest, and uphold factual truth over unverified claims.
Response to Social Media Influencer VeryDarkMan
Martin Vincent Otse — aka VeryDarkMan — has become a household name in Nigeria’s digital activism scene. Known for his controversial commentary on politics, societal issues, and public personalities, VDM has both supporters and critics. His reach on social platforms has been instrumental in amplifying many narratives that traditional media might overlook.
But in this case, Pastor Okafor’s legal team accused VDM of irresponsibly publishing and promoting unverified claims without seeking the pastor’s side of the story. Okpara alleged that VDM’s actions were “self-serving, cheap content creation” driven by the assumption that a pastor wouldn’t publicly respond — an assumption that has now proven incorrect.
For many Nigerians, this situation highlights the influence and ethical responsibility that influential online personalities must uphold — especially when dealing with sensitive personal allegations against individuals with large followings.
The Legal Stakes: Defamation, Cybercrime, and Reputation Protection
Pastor Okafor’s warning is not just rhetorical — it carries legal weight grounded in Nigerian law.
Under the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015, cyberbullying, harassment, stalking, and the spread of defamatory content can all attract criminal penalties. Civil remedies — including damages for reputational harm — are also enforceable through Nigerian courts. Coupled with defamation laws under common law principles, the pastor’s legal team appears prepared to pursue all available avenues if compliance is ignored.
The warning serves as a clear signal that Nigeria’s expanding legal framework around online conduct is increasingly being used by public figures to defend their reputations against misinformation and harmful digital conduct.
Public Reaction and Social Media Buzz
Since the press briefing and the legal warning went public, Nigerians across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have reacted passionately.
Supporters of Pastor Okafor argue that defamation must be checked and online influencers held accountable when they spread unverified claims about private individuals.
Followers of VeryDarkMan maintain that activism often involves exposing uncomfortable truths — and that digital platforms should remain spaces for free expression.
Many observers have called for balanced journalism and ethical verification before publishing content that could devastate a person’s career, ministry, or personal life.
This controversy underscores a broader debate in Nigeria and globally: Where should the line be drawn between digital activism and defamatory conduct? And how can online platforms enforce accountability without stifling legitimate criticism?
What’s Next? Legal Action or Resolution?
As of now, Pastor Okafor’s legal team has made its demands clear — and the clock is ticking.
If the parties involved do not comply with the directives — including retraction, apology, content removal, and a DNA test — the pastor’s lawyers have signaled that they will pursue formal legal action to protect his reputation and ministry.
This could include:
Filing civil suits for criminal defamation
Pursuing damages for reputational harm
Initiating court orders to remove harmful online content
Engaging law enforcement in any cybercrime investigations
The outcome will likely have far-reaching implications for digital media conduct in Nigeria — especially how influencers and activists approach sensitive personal allegations about public figures.
Conclusion: A Defining Moment for Online Accountability
The clash between Pastor Chris Okafor and VeryDarkMan is more than a headline — it represents a clash of digital culture, legal accountability, personal reputation, and online activism.
As social media continues to democratize information sharing, controversies like this will test the boundaries of ethics, law, and digital influence. For bloggers, journalists, activists, and everyday internet users, this story offers a powerful reminder:
> Information shared online matters — and so do the consequences that follow.
Stay tuned as this case develops — and whether VeryDarkMan responds, complies, or faces full legal proceedings in the coming weeks.
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