Court Orders Arrest of Blogger, Cancels Former MFM Chorister’s Bail in Cyberbullying Case
Court Orders Arrest of Blogger, Cancels Former MFM Chorister’s Bail in Cyberbullying Case
A Federal High Court in Lagos has withdrawn the bail earlier granted to gospel singer and former Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) chorister, Ayotunde Richards, and ordered the arrest of blogger Funke Ashekun over social media posts alleged to have misrepresented court proceedings in a defamation case involving MFM General Overseer Daniel Olukoya.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa issued the order on Wednesday during the ongoing criminal trial of Richards, who is facing a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cyberbullying and defamation filed by the Nigerian Police.
During the hearing, the prosecuting counsel, Nosa Uhumwangho, told the court that Richards published a series of posts on the social media platform Moment of Truth between December 2023 and February 2024, which allegedly defamed Olukoya.
According to the prosecution, Richards referred to the cleric as “a powerless clergy who depends on Ayoleyi Tawose to deal with his perceived enemies” and also described him as “the Police Pastor” of “Mountain of Police and Alagbon Ministries.”
The prosecutor further alleged that Richards accused Olukoya of misleading his former pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God in order to have him removed from the church.
Uhumwangho said the alleged actions contravened Sections 27 and 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015.
Richards had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail by the court.
However, the prosecution later informed the court that blogger Funke Ashekun had published posts about the trial on social media, tagging Richards and allegedly misrepresenting the court’s proceedings.
In one of the posts titled “The judge delivered a strong message to Olukoya in court today,” the blogger reportedly claimed that the judge questioned why the MFM leader could not rely on spiritual powers to resolve the dispute.
Counsel to Richards, Ademola Adewale, urged the court not to hold his client responsible for the blogger’s statements.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa, however, rejected the argument, noting that Richards had admitted in an affidavit that the posts did not accurately reflect what transpired in court and that he had been tagged in them.
The judge subsequently revoked Richards’ bail, ordering that he remain in custody until Ashekun is arrested and produced before the court, or until she deletes the posts and publishes an apology.
The case was adjourned until April 29 for further hearing.
