This is pending the hearing of Ayotunde Richards’ bail application scheduled for Wednesday.

His counsel, Adesina Ogunlana told our correspondent on Monday that his client was charged and arraigned before the court earlier in the day.

“Ayotunde Richards will be brought back to the court before Justice Allagoa on Wednesday for his bail application.

“Also today, he was at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja for his own case before Justice D.T. Olatokun. That was for his fundamental human rights application and that was adjourned to April 29, 2024,” Ogunlana said.

The Nigeria Police Force had filed charges against Ayotunde Richards over a petition from Davidson Adejuwon, who is a lawyer and reportedly an aide to the MFM church founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya.

In the petition, the lawyer accused Ayotunde and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying and making libellous claims against Olukoya.

Davidson filed the petition as counsel for one Mrs Sanni, an aide to Olukoya reportedly saddled with the cleric’s social media concerns about Olukoya.

The petition was not filed on behalf of Olukoya.

Ayotunde Richards had also filed a suit against the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Olukoya, over an alleged breach of his fundamental human rights.

Other respondents in the case are Davison Olaniran Adejuwon Esq; Superintendent of Police Tawose Ayoleyi Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force.

Olukoya, Davidson, Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents respectively.

Ayotunde who was the leader of the cleric’s backup singers alleged that Olukoya him locked up at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi for eight days.

He described his detention by the police as illegal, oppressive and a brazen abuse of power.

Justice Olatokun of the High Court in Ikeja had ordered the immediate release of Ayotunde. This was confirmed to NewMailNG in a video by his lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana.

However, the police refused to comply with the order.

Documents obtained by our correspondent show that 12 counts bordering on cyberbullying and libel were filed against Ayotunde Richards at a Federal High Court in Lagos.

The charges were filed on March 11, 2024 by N. W. Uhumwangho, Esq., prosecuting counsel and Senior Legal Officer at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) in Yaba, Lagos.

Count 4 reads: “That you, Ayotunde Richards ‘m’, on or about the month of December 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did intentional send defamatory message or other matter of communication via blogging platform known as ‘Moment of Truth’ a social network captioned: “Olukoya told lies to my form RCCG Pastor to flush me out of the church. He doesn’t behave like a Pastor at all which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act 2015.”

Another count reads, “That you, Ayotunde Richards ‘m’, sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional send a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: “Ayotunde Richard” captioned “Pastor employing a criminal Police officer to detain his perceived enemy is NOT the power of God it is religious hooliganism”, which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustee of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.”

Count 9 reads, “That you, Ayotunde Richards ‘m’, sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, with the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional sent a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: “Ayotunde Richard” captioned “Please rescue me from this woman and my former General Overseer. They are threatening to assassinate me, leaving a church should not end my life”, which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya, the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sec 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.”

Count 10 reads, “That you, Ayotunde Richards ‘m’, sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, in the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional sent a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: “Ayotunde Richard” captioned ‘This Church practically worships the Police. What are they looking for again in the house??” which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby commit fence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015.”

The post Court remands former MFM chorister, Ayotunde Richards in Ikoyi Prison over alleged cyberbullying, libel against church founder, Olukoya appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The church said contrary to media reports, the worshipper died at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun state.

On November 2, the worshipper was reported to have slumped during a prayer session at the church auditorium in the Ibafo area of Ogun.

In a statement on Thursday, Collins Edomaruse, spokesperson of Daniel Olukoya, general overseer of MFM, said the deceased came in looking feeble and was not at the prayer city for a residential programme like ‘deliverance’.

According to him, the deceased was rushed to a clinic within the church before she was taken to OOUTH.

He said the hospital had commended the church for their swift action of bringing the sick person over.

He added that upon getting to the hospital, the deceased was immediately attended to in the ambulance, but later gave up.

“On physical observation inside an ambulance, we recorded pallor+++… that she was pale (short of blood),” the statement reads.

“She looked cachexic and emaciated, hence blood pressure was quickly checked inside the ambulance; result: B/P71/55 P115, Temp 36.oc, because of the pallor+++ that requires immediate blood.

“The ambulance driver and a nurse were instructed to rush her to Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, where urgent intervention and investigations could be carried out.

“The report received from the nurse at the teaching hospital indicated that the deceased was attended to in the ambulance as an emergency for preliminary investigations.

“She later gave up there and her remains were deposited at the morgue of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.”

The ministry said it regularly provides first aid to worshippers in need of one.

“The ministry may not be able to ascertain the medical situation of everyone that desires to seek God’s face within its facility,” the statement adds.

“It however provides a first aid duty of care to anyone who needs medical attention within its premises. One can conclude that’s it’s simply a case of ignorance and misrepresentation of facts to claim that the unfortunate demise of a worshipper at a teaching hospital was caused by the ministry in any way.

“The church provides a covenant platform of divine encounter and teaches the worshippers how to connect with the God of the Bible. This has provided tremendous testimonies over the years.”

The post Female worshipper died in hospital, not at our prayer city – MFM appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

MFM, in a statement by Collins Edomaruse, Media Aide to the General Overseer, MFM, said it would ordinarily have ignored “this misguided and vicious attack on the person of our General Overseer but for the need to appropriately inform the discerning public and expose the malicious falsehood in this unmerited attack against one of God’s Generals.”

“To begin with, what the publisher of this falsehood is attempting to portray as recent events are actually the feeble defence of some renegade pastors presented in 2017 to a Court Case commenced in 2017 at the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County of Maryland, USA by Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries against Pastors Lawrence Adetunji, Ronke Adetunji, eleven former members of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Bowie, Maryland USA and Christ The Truth Ministry to recover possession of property and monies belonging to MFM international which those renegade Pastors and the eleven (11) conniving members had sought to snatch upon breaking out from the MFM Fold to form a Christ the Truth Ministries.

“It is pertinent to note the following:
* That the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County of Maryland delivered judgment in that case in 2019 in which it:

a. disbelieved the lies of the Defendants, and

b. granted MFM’s claims in their entirety

* That the false publication of those very same stories by Sahara Reporters in 2017 has earned it two suits for Libel – one in the United States of America and the other here in in the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, Uyo, Nigeria.

* Also, that a similar publication by ThisDay newspaper of the same false stories citing Sahara Reporters as its source, as has been done in this present instance, has also earned the publishers of that newspaper a civil suit to recover N500bn as aggravated damages for libel. The matter is currently at trial stage in the High Court of Rivers State, Port Harcourt.

“In essence, the publishers of this present falsehood have not only opened themselves to a suit in Libel but have, by commenting on a matter which has been judicially determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in the United States of America, and aspects of which are still sub-judice in live Libel suits before a court in the US and two courts in Nigeria, committed the offence of contempt of each of those courts.

“It is definitely in very bad taste and a crass breach of all known journalistic ethics for a publisher to pull up falsehoods which were uttered in 2017 and judicially determined as false in 2019 and republish them in July 2020 as a fresh story. The malice behind such action is very clear and palpable and will be redressed in due course.”

The post MFM threatens to sue publisher over misguided, vicious attack on MFM GO, Dr. D.K Olukoya appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

It has also, in compliance with the ban on gatherings and religious activities by the Lagos and Ogun State governments, suspended all church activities at all of its branches in Lagos and Ogun States forthwith till further notice.

General Overseer (GO) of the MFM, Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, in a statement by his Media Office, reminded Nigerians of the various steps being taken by the Federal and State Governments to contain the pandemic.

Olukoya, who is a scientist and Prophet of God, said, having considered all involved and under the leading of the Holy Spirit, “I urge all Christians and men of faith, irrespective of denomination and religion, to pray the following prayers to receive protection and healing from the virus and other pestilence likely to come this year.”

Quoting from the scriptures: 3Jn.1:2, which says “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth”, Psalm 91:1-16, among others, he advised Nigerians that: “These prayers should be done along with the officially released hygiene and sanitation protocols.

1. I soak my blood, bones and flesh in the wonder working power of the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
2. I barricade my body from every invasion by disease germs, in the name of Jesus.
3. Holy Ghost fire, burn all disease deposits in my body to ashes, in Jesus’ name.
4. Blood of Jesus, laminate my life, in the name of Jesus.
5. I silence the voice of sickness speaking against my life, in the name of Jesus.
6. Let the blood of Jesus immunize me from every infirmity, in the name of Jesus.
7. Anything I have eaten or swallowed, presently working against my health, be dissolved by the power of God, in the name of Jesus.
8. My body, resist and reject every killer disease, in the name of Jesus.
9. Any organ in my body performing below expectation, receive the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the name of Jesus.
10. I shall not die but live to declare the works of God, in the name of Jesus.
11. All arrows of infirmity fired against me, go back to the sender, in Jesus’ name.
12. Thou power of the wasters, my body is not your candidate, clear away, in the name of Jesus.
13. Any curse of infirmity working against me, die, in the name of Jesus.
14. Any ladder or pipe supplying evil current into my body, break away, in the name of Jesus.
15. I receive divine tonic and vitamins by the power in the blood of Jesus.
16. My immune system, become unchallengeable by any infirmity, in Jesus’ name.
17. Yokes and covenants of diseases, break, in the name of Jesus.
18. Any programme of the spirit of death for my body, be extinguished, in the name of Jesus.
19. Witchcraft sponsored infirmity will not come close to my camp, in Jesus’ name.
20. I speak woe unto every troubler of the Israel of my life, in the name of Jesus.
21. By the power in the stripes of the Lord Jesus Christ, I chase every infirmity out of my body, in the name of Jesus.
22. Every garment of infirmity, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.
23. I drink the blood of Jesus and pass out from my body system every demon of infirmity, in the name of Jesus. (Do this prophetically)
24. I inhale the fire of God and pass out every deposit of infirmity from my body, in the name of Jesus. (Do this prophetically)
25. Every anchor of wasters, vanish from my body, in the name of Jesus.
26. Let the power of the shadow of the Almighty overshadow me, in Jesus’ name.
27. O Lord, make my body too hot for every demon of sickness, in Jesus’ name.
28. My blood, be vaccinated by the Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus.
29. Diseases unto death, I am not your candidate, die, in the name of Jesus.
30. I render my body undevourable to eaters of flesh and drinkers of blood, in the name of Jesus.
31. Anything that I have eaten or swallowed assigned to attack my health, die, in the name of Jesus.
32. Rain of divine immunity, envelope and soak me, in the name of Jesus.
33. Holy Ghost fire, secure my defense against infirmity by fire, in Jesus’ name.
34. Every dark prophecy, dark prayer and dark wish against my well-being, I dash you to pieces, in the name of Jesus.
35. I crush every serpent and scorpion of generational infirmity, in Jesus’ name.
36. Blood of Jesus, Holy Ghost fire, detoxify my body, in the name of Jesus.
37. Power drinking the blood of my wholeness, die, in the name of Jesus.
38. Agenda of wasters for our land, be nullified with the blood of Jesus, in the name of Jesus.
39. You dark stronghold, in charge of sickness and disease in our land, fall down and die, in the name of Jesus.
40. We use the blood of Jesus to sanitize our land and cleanse it from every coven-sponsored sickness and disease, in the name of Jesus.

The post MFM releases prayers to contain coronavirus, counsels Nigerians against panic appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The church in a statement by Collins Edomaruse, says that the MFM, through its singles ministry, GEN 218, in the last decade, “Has to its credit, over 150,000 weddings that have occured as a result of Gen218 forums.‎”

Quoting the pastor‎ in charge of the programme, Pastor Popoola, GEN 218 offers training, teaching and guidance for bachelors and spinsters within the fold.

He said “Here at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, our singles ministry, Gen218, is based on the scripture in Genesis 2:18 which states “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him”(NLT).

“It is an exciting and vibrant minstry, attracting singles from all other denominations since its inception. It was established by our Role models, Dr Daniel and Pastor Mrs Shade Olukoya.

“In the last decade, Gen 218 has provided training, teaching and guidance to thousands of single men and women across Nigeria, Africa and all around the world.

“To its credit, over 150,000 weddings have occured as a result of Gen218 forums.

“The false assumption that the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has the largest number of female singles is baseless, erroneous and very misleading.

“The Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministry has a distinctive and well structured youth movement. The youths and young adults of this minstry, under the leadership of the General Overseer, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the fields of academia, music and sports with laurels to back this up.

“This fervency spills over into the Gen218 ministry, attracting large numbers of singles to our forums and events. It is therefore fallacious to assume the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries has the largest number of single females. Thousands of weddings hold on a weekly basis, both at regional and branch levels.

“Dr Olukoya and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles ministries have never stated that single men and women within this ministry should only marry within the minstry.

“We encourage and actively support all spinsters and bachelors, regardless of denomination, to build their relationships on biblical standards. We strongly advise all our single men and women to marry fellow believers within the Christian faith who equally believe in Christ’s redemption plan.

“We believe this is God’s will for marriage and is the best foundation for a successful and a Godly marriage.”

The post MFM debunks ‎report of ‘Church with highest single ladies’ appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The popular cleric insisted that no book in the bible recorded the word ‘Christmas’ or that Jesus was born on December 25.

“If you really study the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, there is no word like Christmas. The bible only recorded that the Shepherds were taking care of their flocks during a very cold season when they sighted the star that announced the birth of Jesus Christ.

“This cold period could be around April or May,” Olukoya said. According to the general overseer, December 25 is a date originally set aside by ancient Romans for Mars festival among worshippers of the sun.

Olukoya said the birth of Christ was subsequently coopted into the same date to give the Mars festival more popularity and then renamed ‘Christmas’.

The post Christmas celebration not biblical, says MFM founder, Olukoya appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

“The evangelist was a great tool and instrument in the hands of God. During his lifetime, Bonnke relentlessly and selflessly worked for God. He was passionate about the kingdom and he spent over 60 years of his life doing so.

“Now, it is left for every one of us to continue in the kingdom work. The Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke has done his part and has passed on the baton. The MFM, as a church, worked closely with him during his lifetime and it was a great privilege and it’s all for the advancement of the kingdom of God, according to the great commission.”

Olukoya also reached out to the family of the late evangelist, saying: “Our dear brother has gone to be with the Lord but God loves him most. May God continue to uphold the family and grant them the support needed in a time as this”.

Recall that Bonnke’s first visit to Nigeria was in 1991 and hosted by Kano state then. In year 2000, he returned to Nigeria with a crusade held along Cele, Mile-2 Expressway and the farewell crusade was held in 2017 along Lagos/ Ibadan expressway.

Bonnke, who died at the age of 79, is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed by kingdom faithful, he added.

The post A general has gone home, says Olukoya on late Reinhard Bonnke appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

A statement by President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, said President Buhari joined the General Overseer, his family members and all worshipers at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries in mourning with the devout Christian and prayer warrior.

The president believed Mama Janet, who would be interred on Aug. 29, loved God and lived according to His precepts which was clearly reflected in the way she raised her children.

He urged all family members to find solace in her devoutness and service to humanity.

The president prayed that Mama Janet’s soul would find rest in the Lord.

The post Buhari condoles with MFM’s Gen. Overseer, Olukoya, over mother’s death appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

‎Olukoya, who is now General Overseer, MFM Ministries (Worldwide), made the disclosure Saturday during the church’s 30th year anniversary and international convention holding at its Prayer City, along Lagos -Ibadan Expressway.

He told the congregation during a sermon, he titled: “Rearranged for Revival”, which is also the theme of the convention, that: “I was sleeping in my one-room apartment in the Boys Quarters of a house located on Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba, in 1977, when I heard a sharp voice. I then woke up and walked towards the door. But I did not see anybody.

“Again, for the second time, the voice came and as I was whose it was, the Holy Spirit said: ‘son remember the call of Samuel’. Then he started giving the covenant that led to the establishment of the MFM.”

He also said, though he got the messages and the covenant from God, the MFM was not founded until 12 years later.

‎The convention, which opened for real spiritual activities, attracted hundreds of thousands of worshippers to the venue while millions of others are following the activities through the various alternative channels of the church.

‎Saturday’s activities include three Manna Water prayer sessions, 30 prayer sessions and 30 deliverance sessions.

The convention kicked off on Friday evening‎.

Worshippers, in their thousands from all over the world, who had arrived early for the convention were treated to a highly-anointed and spiritually-packed concert on Friday evening as a prelude to today’s service.

Unveiling the programme of the event last Sunday at the international headquarters, Lagos, General Overseer of MFM, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, said the Saturday programme will be laced with three Holy Ghost-packed Manna Water Services.

He encouraged worshippers to come to the meeting with their bottles of water as they connect to the awesome power of the Holy Ghost.

The Manna Water service is one the church’s inter-denominational services that attracts millions of worshippers all over the world.

Worshippers, during several of their testimonies on the Manna Water service, say longtime yokes, intractable ailments and foundational curses, among others, are broken during the services.

Olukoya, speaking on the programme, also said the special convention will come to a close on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the same venue.

The post God gave me the MFM vision as a tenant in one-room apartment, says Dr. Olukoya appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.

The indefinite suspension, according to a statement by the Church’s spokesman, Brother Collins Edomaruse, is in line with the rules and regulations of MFM which forbid such acts and frown at them.

He also said that Onyekachukwu’s indefinite suspension is a result of an investigation carried out by the Church that established that he was culpable of the reported offence of rape, which resulted in the reported pregnancy of the female teenager.

Confirming the incident, Regional Overseer (RO) Gwarimpa region of the church, Pastor Babalola Niyi, said: He (Onyekachukwu) is not an ordained pastor in Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

“He is just a member/worker in that Life Camp branch and he has been suspended from the branch immediately. The church can not stop the law from taking its course as doing so will amount to condoning evil and being an accessory after the fact.”

He added: “After investigation, we confirm that the raping and impregnating of the girl is true and the matter is currently being handled by the Police.

“However, we want to say that the alleged person is not an ordained Pastor or an officially appointed Pastor in MFM Gwarimpa Region. “This is therefore a personal issue between the Brother and the innocent victim.

“It has nothing to do with Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries. In MFM, the leadership does not condone indiscipline. Absolute holiness within and without is our hallmark in Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.

“This is of a priority in all our trainings and teachings to our Pastors and members. The alleged brother is already in the Custody of the Police to allow the law to take its course.”

The post MFM slams indefinite suspension on members over indecent relationship with female teenager appeared first on New Mail Nigeria.