The Lagos State Police Command has commenced investigations into alleged murder claims against the embattled pastor of Mountain of Liberation and Miracle Ministries, Pastor Chris Okafor.
The police stressed that the investigation is unrelated to the viral sexual allegations made against the cleric by some individuals online.
It was gathered that, as of Sunday afternoon, there had been no official report or formal complaint filed against the pastor.
The spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, told Newsmen that the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, had directed the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, to investigate the murder allegations against the clergyman.
Pastor Okafor had stepped down from his pastoral duties a few days ago following sexual allegations, when an unverified report later surfaced online linking him to a murder.
Although the police said they could not, at the moment, link him to the murder of any individual, it was gathered that widespread agitation especially on social media prompted the police to initiate an investigation.
A source at the Homicide Section of the State CID, Panti, who spoke to Our Correspondent on condition of anonymity, said, “It is true that the Commissioner of Police has directed us to investigate the murder allegations.”
The source, however, clarified that no invitation had been extended to the pastor, noting, “We have not sent any invitation to him because there is no formal report or any evidence linking him to any murder.
“The only thing we have at the moment are screenshots of allegations circulating online, and we cannot rely solely on such claims to prosecute anyone.”
The source added that efforts were ongoing to trace the origin of the allegations in order to gain a clearer picture and aid investigations.
Confirming the development, the Lagos police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, said, “It is true that the Commissioner of Police has directed the SCID to commence investigations into the murder allegations against him.
“The investigation has nothing to do with the sexual allegations against him. So far, we have not received any formal complaint, but investigations into the murder allegations are ongoing.”
