The founder of Grace Nation International, Chris Okafor, has withdrawn the public apology he previously issued to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala amid an ongoing public dispute between both parties.
Okafor announced the decision during a church service, explaining that the earlier apology was made under pressure from people close to him.
He stated that the apology should not be interpreted as an admission of the allegations made against him.
The cleric also disclosed that his earlier gesture during the church service, including kneeling before the congregation, was done to prevent senior religious figures from being drawn into the controversy.
According to him, the matter would now be handled through legal channels as the dispute continues to generate public attention on social media.
He said “There’s no apology for what I didn’t do or for someone I haven’t met face to face. I was pressured by people I called friends but who are not.
“Firstly, the reason why I apologised was that the fathers of faith were being dragged. And I did not want them to be dragged. Pastor Bishop Abioye, and Matthew,”
“I knelt down because of those fathers. Not because of any Jezebel anywhere.”
Recall that Okafor’s second daughter, Amara alleged plan to press charges against him for assault and abuse.
Background Of The Chris Okafor–Doris Ogala Controversy
The public dispute between Chris Okafor and Doris Ogala became widely known in late 2025 after the actress alleged that she had been involved in a romantic relationship with the cleric for several years. She claimed that the relationship began around 2017 and that she had been given repeated assurances of marriage.
The controversy intensified after a video showing Okafor’s engagement and later wedding to another woman surfaced online.
Following the development, Ogala accused the pastor of betrayal and emotional distress, stating that she had ended a previous marriage during the period she was involved with him.
The actress later issued a legal notice seeking damages and alleging that the relationship had caused reputational and emotional harm.
She also made additional claims about financial disputes and personal issues connected to the relationship, although some of these allegations remain disputed.
In response to the growing controversy, Okafor initially denied several of the accusations but later issued a public apology during a church service, stating that he regretted actions that may have offended people.
The apology drew widespread public reaction and further comments from the actress.
The situation escalated again when Okafor later retracted the apology, explaining that it was made due to pressure from associates and was primarily intended to prevent other church leaders from being dragged into the dispute.
As of the latest developments, the matter remains unresolved, with both parties maintaining their positions while discussions about the controversy continue in the public space.