At a press briefing held in Lagos on Thursday, Okafor expressed deep frustration over what he called the unchecked spread of unverified information, which he says has damaged the reputations of many Nigerians. He urged lawmakers and cybercrime authorities to take decisive action to curb the trend.
Okafor’s comments follow allegations made in November 2025 by Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, who claimed the cleric had been involved in a long-term relationship with her and failed to fulfill a promise to marry her. Ogala also accused Okafor of involvement in the death of her brother and alleged that a severed head of an unidentified person was buried at the altar of his church in Ojodu, Lagos State.
Reacting to the accusations, Okafor described the most painful aspect of the controversy as the public’s readiness to believe and amplify claims without verifying facts or offering him a chance to respond.
“It is so sad that most of the so-called influencers we have often connived with people to come up with fabulous lies to attract traffic to their blogs,” he said.
He further argued that many Nigerians suffer irreparable harm due to false online narratives, adding that perpetrators often evade accountability.
“Many Nigerians have suffered and are still suffering from the lies of bloggers and most often, they get away with it after destroying the image of their targets,” Okafor said.
He noted that only a few influencers have been arrested or taken to court, while the majority continue to publish harmful content with little consequence.
“Nigeria must find a way to safeguard its internet space, especially to ensure that innocent citizens do not get shattered over lies, demeaning their image,” he added.
Okafor urged the National Assembly to introduce legislation that would regulate online activities and impose penalties on offenders, suggesting that stricter laws would act as a deterrent. He also called on cybercrime authorities to intensify investigations and prosecute digital offenders to protect the public.
He concluded by lamenting that many members of the public, including bloggers, rarely seek factual verification or ask critical questions before sharing allegations, often contributing to the spread of misinformation.