MFM Church Loses Two Cases Against Social Media Influencer, In U.S. Court
One of the lawsuits was filed by Adekunle Adekola, former personal assistant to the General Overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, now a pastor at MFM Rockville branch, Maryland.
A District Court of Maryland, United States has set aside two cases filed by the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) against a Nigerian social media influencer and YouTuber Mrs. Funke Ashekun over alleged electronics communication harassment.
One of the lawsuits was filed by Adekunle Adekola, former personal assistant to the General Overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, now a pastor at MFM Rockville branch, Maryland.
The second lawsuit was filed by Kunle Ladipo, who is the MFP pastor for Bowie branch, Maryland.
The duo accused Ashekun of using her social media platforms to harass them since January 4, 2022.
She was accused of describing one of the pastors as the leader of a street gang in Lagos before becoming Olukoya’s PA.
In a document handwritten by one of the plaintiffs, Ladipo, which was obtained by SaharaReporters, he accused Ashekun of videos that harass and create harmful narratives about him.
He alleged that Ashekun accused him of committing illegal and immoral acts with no proof or justification.
The statement partly reads, “From January 4, 2022 and ongoing, Ashekun Funke has used her Facebook & YouTube platform to harass, hound and alarm me (Olakunle Ladipo)
“Ashekun continues to harass, defame and annoy Olakunle Ladipo through video posts and Facebook posting. Also through her live segments she uploads on YouTube and Facebook weekly.
“Maryland law against electronic harassment states that misuse of electronic communication or interactive computer service has been committed.
“A person maliciously engages in a course of conduct, through the use of electronic communication that alarms or seriously annoys another with the intent to harass, alarm or annoy the other.
“Ashekun has continued to post harassing videos. In those videos, she created harmful narratives, harass me, Olakunle Ladipo and accused me of committing illegal and immoral acts with no proof or justification. On February 20, 2024, MFM sent a cease and desist letter to Ashekun, she simply ignored the cease and desist letter, she continues to post malicious content in spite of receiving a reasonable request.
“Ashekun, without legal justification continues to electronically accuse, persecute and harass me, Olakunle Ladipo and my colleagues on various videos posts and platforms.
“This shows her clear intent to continue her campaign of defamation and online harassment.”
The cases were heard on October 11, 2024 by Judge John C. Moffett, according to the court document obtained by SaharaReporters.
“The two cases were set aside and discontinued for lack of evidence,” Ashekun said.
“The Court’s finding is as follows: ELEC COMM HARASS, Plea-Other Plea Verdict-Nolle Prosequi,” the document reads.
With the recent judgement, Ashekun has triumphed against MFM in four cases within 10 months, SaharaReporters learnt.
The first one was delivered on January 24, 2024, while the second one was delivered on April 18, 2024.
Following the recent victory, Ashekun told SaharaReporters that Olukoya used his pastors and branches in the US to slam her with four court cases in 2024 alone.
She said, “I thank God that the criminal cases initiated by two MFM pastors against me have been dismissed. DK Olukoya really tried to use his structures on the ground in America to oppress and gag me so that his atrocities and oppression of his members would not be exposed to the world but he keeps failing.
“He has used his pastors and branches in the US to slam me with four court different cases within this year alone, that’s an abuse of court process.”
“I know justice will prevail because all I say about him is true!” she added.
