The Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries and its General Overseer – Dr. D. K. Olukoya have secured another landmark judgement in the defamation suit filed against a blogger, Maureen Badejo.
The latest judgement was delivered on Tuesday, April 13 by a High Court of Justice in London.
The UK Court among other things granted a perpetual injunction restraining Maureen Badejo from publishing further defamatory words against or concerning Dr. Daniel Olukoya, his family and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Collins Edomaruse said in a statement issued Tuesday. According to him, while handing down the injunction, the judge, Master Thornett, also ordered her (Badejo) to pay the legal costs incurred by the Olukoyas in the suit while also striking out her defence and counterclaim for “abuse of process”. It is understood that further court session(s) would be held to determine the actual cost to be awarded to Dr Olukoya, his family and the Church. Part of the statement read: “Today’s hearing, which began at precisely 10:30 AM finished at approximately 1:05 PM.
“Represented by Mrs Nath Director and Solicitor of Nath Solicitors London Boutique firm specialising in defamation and by Mr Jonathan Price of Doughty Street Chambers, Dr. Olukoya, his family and the Church instituted the suit following several lies, no fewer than 52 of them, churned out by Maureen and her GIO TV on YouTube and Facebook against them.
“Maureen Badejo had also filed a counter-claim to demand monies allegedly lost by her from the shutting down of some of her broadcasts by You-Tube and Facebook sequel to complaints from Dr. Olukoya’s lawyers.
“The Judge in dismissing her counterclaim, described it as a frivolous claim and branded it an abuse of process. “
Tuesday’s judgement is the second that would be obtained by the Mountain of Fire & Miracles Ministries and its General Overseer – Dr. D. K. Olukoya against the Badejo.
An Ogun State High Court in February 2021 ordered the UK-based blogger to pay N500 million to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) and its General Overseer, Daniel Olukoya, for defamation. Abiodun Akinyemi, while delivering the landmark judgment, also ordered Ms Badejo, the proprietor of Gio TV, to pull down and erase the offending online publications concerning the claimants from the internet. The judge further ordered the blogger to tender a written apology and retraction of the offending publications prominently on social media and at least three national dailies.
Shortly after the court victory over the nefarious Maureen Badejo was announced, it was an elated Dr. Olukoya who took to his social media handle to celebrate with the entire MFM worldwide. Many will recall that all through the period the distasteful saga lasted, the very dignified and respected General Overseer of MFM, Dr. D.K. Olukoya never said a word about the embarrassing court case to the church congregation. This is what the hugely relieved and excited General Overseer put out on social media:
“Members and Friends of MFM will recall that from the evening of 20th August 2020, one Maureen Badejo has been having a field day broadcasting all manners of falsehood against this Church, its General Overseer and his family, Pastors and members. Aspects of those publications which pertained to MFM International and Dr Olukoya were ventilated in a court case before the High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta in Suit No. AB/407/2020 in which Judgment was entered in favour of MFM and our General Overseer.
Aspects of those broadcasts which pertained to The General Overseer and Mummy GO were filed as a suit in the High Court of London in the Strand, Queen’s Bench Division. In the course of the hearing which was listed at 10.30 am and concluded at 1.05 pm today, April 13, 2021, the evidence was so overwhelming that even Maureen Badejo’s lawyer conceded that her remarks in all those broadcasts were “serious and defamatory”.
Judgment was pronounced today in which the Court granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining Maureen Badejo from publishing defamatory words against or concerning the Plaintiffs and ordered her to pay the legal costs incurred by the Olukoyas in the suit. The erudite Judge opined in his judgment thus “…it is overwhelmingly clear that the nature of this defamation is severe and serious…..and that the number of publications is considerable”
Maureen Badejo had filed a counter-claim to demand monies allegedly lost by her from the shutting down of some of her broadcasts by YouTube and Facebook sequel to complaints from Dr Olukoya’s lawyers. The Judge in dismissing it as a frivolous claim, branded it an abuse of process. The London case will continue for the Court to forensically determine the quantum of damages to be awarded to Dr. and Mrs. Olukoya for these defamations. These victories are a tribute to the Lord our God who would never permit evil to triumph over righteousness.”
– WALE LAWAL
