Court Grants Blogger Light Punishment After Plea Bargain in Olukoya Defamation Suit

Recall that in February 2024, One AYOTUNDE RICHARDS who is the second Defendant in the criminal Charge No: FHC/L/168C/2024 currently pending at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, had sued Dr Olukoya, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles

Ministries, his lawyer Barr Davidson Adejuwon and others, alleging breaches of his fundamental rights.

Mr AYOTUNDE RICHARDS, a former member and singer in the MFM Church, who had for sometimes been publishing series of commentaries which are considered defamatory by the members of MFM family against their General Overseer on his Social media platforms, also got some bloggers to broadcast the Fundamental Right Suits across social media platforms including the First Defendant, ADEWALE AJIMISOGBE who had used his online media platform to propagate the suit of AYOTUNDE RICHARDS with a caption: “HE IS A CRIMINAL AND BEHIND ALL ILLEGAL ACTS – EX-MFMF CHURCH SINGER SUES FOUNDER, DANIEL OLUKOYA, OTHERS, SEEKS N15.5 BILLION IN DAMAGES…”

Uncomfortable with the unabated spate of lies and defamatory publications against the clergy, his Personal Assistance on social media filed a criminal complaint to the Police against AYOTUNDE RICHARDS and ADEWALE AJIMISOGBE who were later arraigned before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi for various offences contrary to the clear provisions of the Cyber Crime Act. However, as the trial was to commence, the first Defendant, ADEWALE AJIMISOGBE, quickly weighed his chances and decided to enter into a PLEA BARGAIN Agreement with the Prosecution to publish a retraction and tender a public apology (both of which have been done) for a light punishment to pay FINE as against being sentenced to a term in the prison if the Prosecution secure a conviction against him.

By the court order of April 11, 2025, (a certified True copy of which was made available to  us), The first defendant is to forfeit the sum of N50,000.00 to the state having reached out to the lawyer of the nominal complainant (Dr D. K. Olukoya) and showed remorse and tendered his unreserved public apology for his wrongdoing to Dr D. K. Olukoya, who is like a father to him and promises never to repeat the same again. He is then free from all charges brought against him while the trial is now adjourned to 3rd June 2025 against AYOTUNDE RICHARDS who is now the only defendant left to answer his own charges