News, Religion, Trending

US Court Orders $300,000 Damages Against Ashekun Over Defamation of Mountain of Fire Ministries

Published by Samuel Ayomide on March 16th, 2026.

A court in the United States has ordered Olufunke Ashekun to pay $300,000 in damages after finding her liable for defaming Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries and its founder Daniel Olukoya.

The ruling was delivered by the Circuit Court for Baltimore County, which concluded that Ashekun’s online publications and campaigns against the church constituted defamation and “false light,” causing reputational damage to the religious organisation.

According to a statement released by the church and cited by Nigerian media outlets including Daily Trust and The Punch, the jury awarded $250,000 in compensatory damages and $50,000 in punitive damages, bringing the total to $300,000.

The judgment followed a legal dispute between Ashekun and the US branch of the church, formally known as Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA Inc., over allegations she reportedly published on social media platforms. Church officials had argued that the statements were defamatory and damaging to the ministry’s reputation.

In its decision delivered on March 13, 2026, the court ruled that the plaintiffs successfully established their claims, stating that Ashekun’s actions formed part of what it described as a prolonged and damaging campaign against the organisation.

“In granting the judgment and damages, the court recognised the prolonged, intense and malicious campaign conducted against the church,” the statement said.

The court also noted that the evidence presented by the defence was weak and inadmissible in several instances, concluding that the plaintiff had sufficiently proven its case.

The ministry further claimed that Ashekun’s actions negatively affected the professional integrity and public perception of the church.

According to the statement, a dramatic moment occurred during the proceedings when Ashekun reportedly collapsed in court a day before the jury delivered its verdict after realising the case was largely unfavourable to her. She was said to have been taken away by emergency responders. The church also alleged that her husband experienced a similar incident when the jury later announced its decision.

The legal dispute and its outcome have drawn attention among Nigerian religious communities, particularly given the global presence of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, which operates churches in several countries. Analysts say the ruling highlights the potential legal consequences of defamatory statements made on social media platforms, especially when directed at institutions or public figures.