UK Court Orders Blogger to Pay £100,000 for Defaming Dr. Daniel Olukoya

A United Kingdom court has ordered blogger Maureen Badejo to pay £100,000 in damages after she lost a defamation lawsuit filed by Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, founder and General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), and his wife.
In its ruling, the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, held that statements published online by Badejo about the Olukoyas were false and defamatory. The court awarded £65,000 in damages to Dr. Olukoya and £35,000 to his wife.
Beyond the financial penalties, the court also ordered Badejo to publicly retract the defamatory statements and to publish a summary of the judgment on her social media platforms, where the claims were originally circulated.
Court records show that the case progressed through the UK legal system, with Badejo pursuing an appeal. However, the appeal was unsuccessful, leaving the original judgment intact.
The court’s decision reinforces the legal principle that individuals are entitled to protection against defamatory publications and that false accusations—especially when made online—carry serious legal consequences.
Legal observers say the ruling serves as a strong reminder to bloggers and social media users of the need to verify facts and rely on credible evidence before making public allegations. The judgment underscores that freedom of expression does not extend to the dissemination of unsubstantiated or damaging falsehoods.