Court Convicts Blogger For Cyberbullying MFM Founder
THECONSCIENCE NG reports that the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted blogger Adewale Ajimisogbe for cyberbullying and libel against Dr. Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa delivered the ruling after Ajimisogbe entered a guilty plea under a plea bargain agreement with the police.
Ajimisogbe and a former MFM member, Ayotunde Richards, were arraigned on March 20, 2024, on a 12-count charge involving conspiracy, cyberstalking, and defamation. While both were jointly charged on three counts, Ajimisogbe faced nine additional counts of libel.
According to police prosecutor Nosa Uhumwangho, the offences were committed between December 2023 and February 2024. He stated that Ajimisogbe, through his blogging platform “Postreporters,” published a defamatory article titled: “He is a criminal and behind all illegal acts – Ex-MFM Church singer sues founder Daniel Olukoya and others, seeks N15.5 billion in damages for illegal detention and breach of human rights.”
The prosecution said the publication violated Sections 27 and 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Initially, both defendants pleaded not guilty. However, Ajimisogbe later changed his plea, acknowledging the weight of the evidence against him.
As part of the plea deal, Ajimisogbe agreed to publicly apologize, issue a formal retraction, and forfeit ₦50,000 to the federal government.
Defence counsel Ife Ajayi urged the court to accept the plea terms, emphasizing that Ajimisogbe was a first-time offender who had shown genuine remorse and offered an unreserved apology to Dr. Olukoya, whom he described as a father figure.
None of the other lawyers, including the prosecutor and counsel for the second defendant, opposed the plea agreement.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled: “After careful consideration of the application and the submissions from counsel, the plea bargain agreement is hereby granted. The first defendant is to forfeit ₦50,000 to the state.”
The judge adjourned the case to June 3, 2025, for the trial of the second defendant, Ayotunde Richards.
