The parents of Pearl Okafor, wife of the founder of Grace Nation International Church, Pastor Chris Okafor, have been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command over the investigation into the suspicious death of businessman Solomon Iwerebor.
The suspects, identified as Mr Justin Iwerebor and his wife, Anthonia, are the parents of Pearl Okafor. Justin was the deceased’s brother.
Solomon, who lived in Germany with his wife and children, reportedly died on September 2, 2026, while staying at his brother’s residence during a visit to Nigeria. His death was subsequently reported to members of his family on September 6, four days after he reportedly passed away.
The arrests followed a petition dated September 15, 2026, submitted to the police by the law firm of Dr Charles Mekwunye, SAN, on behalf of the Iwerebor family.
In the petition addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, the family requested that Justin and his wife be questioned over the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death, particularly as they were among the last people known to have had contact with him.
According to the petition, Solomon had allegedly lost contact with other members of his family after moving into Justin’s residence more than two years ago.
When the family could no longer reach him, his daughter, Miss Jade, who lives in Germany, reportedly contacted Pearl Okafor to enquire about her father’s whereabouts.
Pearl allegedly told her that Solomon had fallen ill, could no longer speak and had been taken to Benin City, Edo State, for medical treatment.
However, the family said it was shocked to learn of his death from a third party on September 6, despite the businessman reportedly dying on September 2.
The relatives also expressed concern that repeated requests for information about his illness, the hospital where he was allegedly treated and relevant medical records had not been satisfactorily addressed.
Alleged Connection with Pastor Chris Okafor
The family further alleged that Solomon was an active member of Pastor Chris Okafor’s Grace Nation International Church and had spent substantial sums of money seeking spiritual intervention and deliverance from the cleric.
They maintained that Pastor Chris Okafor and his wife might possess relevant information about Solomon’s health condition, movements and activities before his death.
The allegations form part of the family’s request for a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the businessman’s death. They do not, in themselves, establish wrongdoing by the cleric or his wife.
Police Arrest Pastor Chris Okafor’s In-Laws
Justin Iwerebor and his wife, Anthonia, were reportedly arrested on Monday, November 2, 2026, by police operatives at Panti, Lagos, following the family’s petition and subsequent investigation.
Sources familiar with the investigation alleged that there had been pressure on the police to release the suspects.
Pastor Chris Okafor was also said to have visited the police formation on Thursday.
However, the family has appealed to the police not to succumb to any pressure that could undermine the investigation or lead to the premature release of the suspects.
Family Demands Thorough Forensic Investigation
Speaking at a press conference, the deceased’s sisters, Mrs Stella Iwerebor and Mrs Udo Hamis, alongside their lawyer, Dr Charles Mekwunye, SAN, expressed deep concern over the circumstances surrounding their brother’s death and the lack of information about events before and after his demise.
They said Solomon, who lived in Germany with his wife and children, had not been seen by other members of the family for more than two years after travelling to Nigeria and staying with Justin and his wife.
According to the family, efforts to establish the nature of the illness that allegedly led to his death, identify the hospital where he was treated and locate his remains had not yielded satisfactory answers.
The sisters said their primary concern was to establish what happened to their brother and ensure that the investigation was conducted without interference.
“All we want is proper investigation. Our brother has died under very disturbing circumstances and we want to know how he died,” they said.
They added that the family wanted the police to establish where Solomon’s remains were, determine what transpired before and after his death and explain why they were not informed until four days after his reported demise.
Family Petitions Inspector-General of Police
The family had initially petitioned the Lagos State Police Command, requesting a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to Solomon’s death.
The petition also sought information about the whereabouts of his remains, the identity and location of the hospital where he was allegedly treated and access to relevant medical records.
After the matter was referred to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, and the suspects were invited for questioning, the Zone 2 Command reportedly attempted to take over the investigation.
This development prompted the family to submit another petition to the Inspector-General of Police on October 23, 2026.
In the petition, the family alleged that the suspects had failed to honour police invitations at Panti. They also questioned the decision to transfer the case to Zone 2, arguing that the command did not have a homicide division to handle a suspected murder investigation.
The family subsequently urged the Inspector-General of Police to order that the investigation be returned to Panti and that the final investigation report be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation for appropriate legal action.
Family Demands Autopsy, Medical Records and Location of Remains
Following the arrest of the suspects, the Iwerebor family reiterated its demand for a comprehensive investigation and urged the police not to allow external pressure to compromise the process.
Among their key demands are:
- Establishment of the identity and location of the hospital in Benin City, Edo State, where Solomon was allegedly taken for treatment.
- Production of relevant medical records relating to his alleged illness and treatment.
- Establishment of the present whereabouts of the deceased’s remains.
- Measures to ensure that his remains are not moved, buried, cremated or otherwise disposed of in a manner that could frustrate investigations.
- An autopsy or other appropriate forensic examinations to determine the actual cause of death, subject to applicable laws and forensic procedures.
The family said it was seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding Solomon’s death and wanted those responsible, if any wrongdoing is established, to be held accountable.
The police investigation is expected to establish the events leading to the businessman’s death, the medical circumstances surrounding his reported illness and the whereabouts of his remains.