A Baltimore County Circuit Court in the United States has awarded $50,000 in damages against a US-based Nigerian social media influencer, YouTuber and a former member of the church, Mrs. Funke Ashekun for defaming Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) had filed a lawsuit against a United States-based Nigerian social media influencer, YouTuber and a former member of the church, Mrs. Funke Ashekun over alleged defamatory programmes against the ministry and its General Overseer, Dr. D. K. Olukoya.
The lawsuit was filed at Baltimore County Circuit Court by one Adekunle Adekola, who is a pastor at an MFM branch in the US.
According to a document obtained by SaharaReporters, the hearing of the lawsuit began on Monday, January 22, 2024.
Ashekun, who is based in Maryland, USA, had on her Facebook page and YouTube accused an unidentified pastor whom she described as “Pharoah” of sexually molesting ladies. She called the church "Pharaoh’s church."
However, the Plaintiff, Adekunle Adekola, through his attorney, Kent L. Greenberg in 2022 filed a complaint for defamation, accusing Ashekun of spreading misinformation, lies and accusations against the church and its leadership.
Part of the preliminary statement reads, "Beginning in August 2021, Defendant began using multiple social media platforms, primarily YouTube and Facebook to spread misinformation, lies and accusations against the Church and its leadership.
"On or about January 4, 2022, Defendant created a Facebook page called, "Moment of Truth" where she posts near-weekly videos where she constantly defames the Church and its leadership."
SaharaReporters also gathered that during a deposition hearing, the Church claimed that the book published by Ashekun titled 'The Mafia Church Leader' is about Olukoya.
However, the Court on Thursday found that the postings of Ashekun defamed the MFM and portrayed its pastors in a false light.
According to the notice of recorded judgment dated January 25, 2024 and obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday, the court returned a unanimous verdict in favour of MFM USA and its three pastors, Grace Ugeh, Kunle Ladipo and Adekunle Adekola.
It reads; "I HEREBY CERTIFY that the following judgment has been recorded in this court in the above entitled case.
"Judgment against: Olufunke Ashekun.
"Judgment in favor of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA.
"Judgment ordered on: 01/24/2024; Judgment entry date: 01/25/2024; Amount of judgment: $50,000.00.
"You may receive a Judgment Debtor (Defendant) Information Sheet (CC-DC-CV-114) from the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney requesting information under oath about you, your employment, and your assets, liabilities, income, and expenses.
"You do not have to complete and return that form, but if you fail to do so within the time allowed, you may be summoned to appear or undergo an examination under oath before a judge or examiner regarding those matters.
"If you fully complete and return the completed Judgment Debtor (Defendant) Information Sheet within the time allowed, you will not be subject to discovery in aid of enforcement for at least one year from the entry of the judgment against you, unless the judgment creditor has been granted leave of court for good cause shownshown," the document added.
Meanwhile, Ashekun in a video on her YouTube page had said MFM and three of its US-based pastors sued her and accused her of defaming their General Overseer.
She explained that the Church earlier initiated two lawsuits bearing the same allegations just to make her keep paying lawyers. She noted that it was her former lawyer who asked the court to merge the two lawsuits into one, which the court agreed to.
Ashekun asserted that MFM’s intention was to drain her financially.
She said: “I am now able to confirm to you and to formally do so now that I, Funke Ashekun, have been sued by a church in America. I want you to know I’ve been sued by a church in America. I’m also able to confirm that the name of the church that has taken me to court in America is Mountain of Fire Miracles and Ministries, America.
"I am also able to confirm to you that I don’t know them, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Imagine, people that I don’t know are suing me. What an Irony.
“I’ve never mentioned the name of any pastor or any General Overseer. I have been talking about Pharaohs. Pharaoh is a Biblical name. We all know Pharaoh to be an oppressor of God’s children. It is a satirical name that I formed it for this programme to pass all my messages because we need to speak out. We can’t keep quiet and allow these people to go on in our society.
“I am bewildered. It is shocking that these three people that I mentioned their names, and MFM Church, America could sue me, that I am talking about their General Overseer. How on earth would you reduce your General Overseer, a man of God that is known globally, highly respected, highly honoured, somebody talking about deliverance, somebody preaching about holiness that people respect so much? How can you reduce him to the level of a Pharaoh? It is shocking.
“How can I be talking about pastors sexually molesting children, young girls, women, vulnerable women? How can I be talking about pastors, and even talk about the entertainment industry, even in the medical field?
“I’ve talked about so many Pharaohs. How can I be talking about people oppressing, making people cry in the society, sexually assaulting women, deception, corruption, torture, terror and then you attach this to your General Overseer? It’s a shame. It is shocking. It is very ridiculous. Are you kidding me? Are you saying your General Overseer is guilty of all these things?
“There are churches I have spent more years than I even spent in your church. Yes, I was a member of your church. But I have attended so many churches. I have been a church girl all my life. Why is Mountain of Fire Miracles and Ministry, taking me to court? Grace Ugeh, you as a woman. I am talking about women being abused in churches.”
"I am talking about women being fingered under the pretext of prayer and deliverance. Grace Ugeh, I am addressing you as a woman. I am talking about your gender being molested by criminals on our pulpits. And you have the audacity to sue me?” she added.