A leaked audio recording in January 2026 thrust veteran Nollywood actress and pastor Eucharia Anunobi and Apostle Psalm Okpe, founder of Fresh Oil Ministry International Church, into a storm of public scrutiny and debate. The audio, which quickly went viral on social media, sparked rumours, legal threats, and heated conversations about faith, celebrity, and accountability.
Eucharia Anunobi: From Nollywood to Ministry
Eucharia Anunobi has long been a household name in Nigeria. Born on May 25, 1965, in Owerri, Imo State, she studied Mass Communication at the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu, and later earned a degree in English from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She rose to fame in Nollywood with roles in films like Glamour Girls and Abuja Connection, and over the years became one of the most respected actresses in the industry.
Beyond acting, Anunobi’s journey led her into Christian ministry. In 2012, she was ordained as a pastor by Apostle Psalm Okpe, a significant step that blended her celebrity with her spiritual calling. She later earned a PhD in Theology, demonstrating her commitment to her faith and religious education.
Anunobi is known for using her platform to inspire and motivate, often combining messages of faith with life advice. Her influence spans both the entertainment industry and religious communities.
Apostle Psalm Okpe: Charismatic Pastor with a Controversial Past
Apostle Psalm Okpe is the founder and General Overseer of Fresh Oil Ministry International Church. Originally from Otukpo in Benue State, Okpe built a reputation as a charismatic preacher with a ministry that claims international reach. His church has attracted several prominent personalities, including Nollywood actors like Eucharia Anunobi, who were ordained or worked under his ministry.
Okpe’s public image, however, has been marked by controversy. In 2016, he faced intense media scrutiny following the death of a female gospel singer, Yvonne Omoarebokhae in his hotel room.
He was detained for several weeks during the investigation. He claimed he left the singer in the room to charge her phone and returned to find her dead. The case concluded and authorities cleared him after an autopsy revealed she died of heart failure.
This history adds context to why the leaked audio in 2026 reignited public interest in his activities and conduct.
The Audio That Sparked the Controversy
The scandal erupted when a now-viral recording captured Apostle Psalm Okpe and another clergyman, Martins, in a graphic and lewd conversation. In the audio, the two men boasted about their past sexual relationships with fellow actress and church leader Chikere Nwafor. The discussion also included unsubstantiated accusations of homosexuality against another male cleric.
During the chat, Okpe claimed he had dated Eucharia Anunobi for over five years while simultaneously in a relationship with Chikere. In his own words, he said:
“You know how many years I dated that woman? It was for four years. I was dating her and Eucharia at the same time. I dated Eucharia for five years and six months. I was taking trips.”
The audio quickly circulated on social media, sparking widespread discussion, rumours, and speculation about the conduct of Okpe and the private lives of those mentioned.
In response, Okpe issued a public apology in a video that quickly trended online. He described the recording as “disturbing” and expressed embarrassment over the language used. In his words:
“There is a disturbing voice note that has been circulating online about me. When they sent it to me, I felt very embarrassed by those vulgar words. In the light of that, I want to bring an apology to the body of Christ globally. It is not something to be proud of. As Christians, it is not in our character to live a reckless or careless life.”
He added:
“I want to tender an apology to everyone who feels embarrassed. I take full responsibility for being so careless with my words. Most of the things were hearsay. I do not know the man Martins. I know Pastor Chikere when she was single.”
Despite the apology, the recording continued to trend online, putting both Okpe and Anunobi under intense public scrutiny.
Eucharia Anunobi’s Response
Eucharia Anunobi responded forcefully to the allegations made in the audio recording, announcing that she has initiated legal action against Psalm Okpe.
In a series of videos posted on her Instagram page on Sunday, the 60-year-old actress described Okpe’s statements as “false, defamatory and damaging” to her reputation. She said the allegations had pushed her into emotional distress and were part of what she described as a long-standing attempt to undermine her ministry. She fumed:
“I am not going to allow that to be swept under the carpet because that malicious, vile statement has left me in emotional trauma. And it is also a testament to his threats over the years to destroy my ministry. So I have instituted legal action so that he can come and prove that he dated me for 5 years and 6 months.”
Anunobi disclosed that her lawyers had been instructed to petition both Nigerian and US authorities. She continued:
“My lawyers have been instructed to start the process of writing a petition to the Nigerian police force, the U.S. Security and Immigration Department, against Psalm Okpe, for defamatory accusations, bothering on issues that I do not know, defamatory accusations that is out to tarnish my integrity, my reputation as a renowned actress and a preacher of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
She further warned that her life and safety were under threat, insisting that Okpe should be held responsible for any harm that might come to her or her family. Eucharia Anunobi said:
“If anything happens to me, my material possessions, acquisitions and family members here in Nigeria and outside Nigeria, as in physical injury, harm or death, Apostle Psalm Okpe, founder of Fresh Oil Ministry, Egbeda, Lagos, Nigeria and his entire family should be held responsible.”
Addressing the sexual claims directly, Anunobi stated that she was willing to submit herself to medical examination to disprove them. She shared:
“I am ready to be taken for medical examination to ascertain if I have been having sex in almost 14 years, if there is anything like that, since I have been ordained”
She strongly rejected the idea that Okpe could ever have dated her, describing the claim as delusional and insulting. In her words:
“Psalm Okpe, you claimed that you dated me for five years, six months. You claimed you had sex with me for five years, six months. Do you know what it means to date? You couldn’t date me. You wish you could date me… I was giving you money to support your ministry because I am sold out to the things of the kingdom.”
She continued:
“So how could I date you? How could you date me? You can’t afford me. I am a higher class. The records are there. The bank records are there… You wish you could date me. Hallucinating monster. You wish in your dreams.”
Anunobi also reaffirmed that she has been celibate for nearly 14 years, despite being courted and engaged during that period. She revealed:
“That is not to say that I have not been in courtship or not been engaged. I have been engaged all this while severally… But none of these men can come out and say they have had penile penetration with me. None of them can say they have had sex with me.”
While acknowledging that Okpe ordained her and introduced her into ministry, Anunobi said she eventually left after witnessing what she described as disturbing practices.
“Serving as an associate pastor under his ministry, as time went by, I began to see a lot of evil and demonic things and especially his continuous engagement in transactional ministry.”
She said she formally requested to leave the ministry in late 2015, but was refused.
“He said no, he was not going to release me yet, that he had not made up his mind.”
According to Anunobi, even after she left, Okpe allegedly continued to misrepresent her affiliation to his church and made threats against her ministry.
“People would call me… asking whether I am still in his ministry… They said he told them that I just travelled for my acting work. I said, but I left a long time ago.”
She said this pattern confirmed to her that Okpe was embittered and intent on harming her reputation.
“So this authenticates the fact that he is embittered and jealous of me and truly meant to harm me as he had been saying behind my back.”
Earlier, Anunobi shared screenshots of blog reports claiming that Okpe had apologised for his comments. During a TikTok Live session, she described the cleric as a “monumental global embarrassment.”
“God has made the man who tried to tarnish my image a monumental global shame. He has confessed. And may the thunder of God fire every one of you who have been writing negatively.”
Conclusion
From all indications, the controversy is far from over. Eucharia Anunobi has made it clear that she intends to pursue legal action to defend her name and ministry, while Apostle Psalm Okpe continues to face intense public backlash despite issuing an apology. What began as a leaked audio has grown into a broader public reckoning, raising difficult questions about faith, power, celebrity influence, and accountability.
The episode also underscores a larger reality of the digital age on how private conversations can swiftly become public scandals, and reputations built over decades can be tested in a matter of hours. For both Anunobi and Okpe, the unfolding situation serves as a stark reminder that visibility whether in entertainment or ministry comes with heightened scrutiny and lasting consequences.
