A Baltimore County Circuit Court in Maryland, United States, has ruled in favor of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) USA, Inc. in a defamation and false light lawsuit against Nigerian blogger Funke Ashekun, awarding a total of $300,000 in damages.
The court ordered Ashekun to pay $250,000 in compensatory damages and an additional $50,000 in punitive damages, citing what it described as a “prolonged, intense, and malicious campaign” against Dr. D.K. Olukoya and the ministry.
The jury reached its verdict after reportedly finding Ashekun’s evidence and witnesses weak and largely inadmissible.
In a dramatic turn of events, Ashekun reportedly collapsed in court a day before the judgment was delivered, allegedly after realizing the case was not in her favor. Her husband was also said to have collapsed the following day while presenting a medical report on her behalf.
The ruling is widely seen as a major vindication of the reputation of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries and its General Overseer, Dr. D.K. Olukoya.