By Crystal Ugoeze
Pastor Chris Okafor, founder of Grace Nation International, has publicly apologised to Nollywood actress Doris Ogala, bringing a dramatic turn to a weeks-long controversy that attracted widespread public attention.
The apology was made on Sunday, December 28, 2025, during a church service at Grace Nation International, where the cleric knelt before his congregation and asked for forgiveness. In a viral video from the service, Pastor Okafor said mistakes had been made in the past and specifically apologised to Ogala.
“I apologise to Doris Ogala, and I’m kneeling down in front of everyone and the church to say please forgive me,” he said. The pastor added that he was willing to make restitution to anyone he may have offended and credited what he described as “new fathers of faith” for positive changes in his life.
The public apology followed allegations by Ogala that Pastor Okafor breached a seven-year promise of marriage and abandoned her for another woman. The actress had also accused the cleric of causing her emotional distress, financial losses, and allegedly sharing explicit images of her.
Before the apology, the dispute escalated into legal threats, with Ogala’s legal team reportedly demanding ₦1 billion in damages. The controversy also led to her brief detention by police after she called for an investigation into activities at the church’s altar.
Following the apology, Ogala took to social media to confirm that she had accepted it, describing the gesture as “all I wanted.”
Ogala announced her decision on Sunday via Facebook. She wrote: “Pastor Chris please don’t kneel. This was all I wanted. Apology accepted.”
However, Pastor Okafor maintained that while he was apologising, many of the allegations made against him were not true.
The apology and Ogala’s acceptance appear to have eased tensions, though it remains unclear whether the legal aspects of the dispute have been fully resolved.