The Circuit Court of Baltimore County, Maryland, delivered a landmark ruling on March 13, 2026, in the case of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA, Inc. v. Olufunke Ashekun, awarding the church $250,000 in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages for defamation and false light claims. This decision stemmed from Ashekun’s prolonged social media campaign targeting Dr. D.K. Olukoya, the church’s General Overseer, and MFM, which the jury unanimously found damaged the ministry’s professional integrity and reputation.
Courtroom Drama Unfolds
The trial reached a fever pitch when Ashekun collapsed in court a day before the verdict, reportedly overwhelmed by the strength of evidence against her, including weak witnesses and inadmissible materials; she was rushed out by emergency services. Her husband suffered a similar collapse the next day while presenting a medical report on her behalf, evoking biblical parallels to Ananias and Sapphira in church announcements, yet the jury pressed on undeterred. These incidents amplified the high-stakes atmosphere, underscoring the emotional toll of the proceedings.
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Background of the Dispute
Ashekun, a Nigerian who relocated to the US, had accused MFM leaders of serious misconduct online, prompting the 2022 lawsuit (Case No. C-03-CV-22-004424) that built on prior tensions. This victory follows earlier MFM legal wins, including a 2024 $50,000 defamation fine against her and recent Nigerian court orders for her arrest over related contempt charges involving former chorister Ayotunde Richards. MFM hailed the outcome as full vindication, with church statements quoting Esther 6:13 to signal divine justice prevailing over adversaries.
