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Alleged Threat Of life : MFM Pastor Olowoyeye, Sues Church Founder, Olukoya For N1Billion Over Illegal detention, Humiliation and Torture
A former Pastor of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Sunday Bawura Olowoyeye, has filed a N1 billion suit against the General Overseer of the church, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, over alleged illegal and oppressive detention.
Pastor Olowoyeye had raised the alarm over an alleged threat to his life by Olukoya.
The cleric who demanded security protection for him and his family claimed that he had not been able to sleep in his house for two weeks “because Olukoya is after my life”.
Olowoyeye said he joined MFM in 1993 and became a pastor of the church in 1995. According to him, he was posted to different states to serve till 2021 when he left the church due to the way they “neglected him and his family when his wife was critically ill”.
He said when his wife was ill, he sought help from the church but no one was ready to assist him.
The pastor told our reporter that when he confronted them that what they did was wrong, and demanded the payment of his five months’ salary, they gave him a sack letter in 2021 that his services were no longer needed in the church.
However, in a court document obtained by
our correspondent on Tuesday, the cleric told the court how he was arrested and detained for 16 days at the F.C.I.D Alagbon, Lagos, allegedly on the orders of Pastor Olukoya, after he expressed his frustration and grievances to a blogger, Maureen Badejo, who broadcast his plight.
He said he was released after agreeing under duress to do a video to retract all the complaints he made against the Olukoya.
According to the document, in September 2023 another member and follower of Pastor Olukoya identified as Samuel Kayode Augustus threatened him with a repeat experience of the arrest, torture and humiliation at F.C.I.D Alagbon.
Among other reliefs, Baruwa is seeking an “order of perpetual injunction restraining Olukoya and other respondents whether by themselves or their offices, servants, agents, representatives, privies whatsoever from further arresting, harassing, detaining, assaulting, molesting, intimidating or coercing in any manner, the Applicant over his complaint against the 1st and 2nd Respondents to Maureen Badejo, a blogger except by a competent order of a court”
The motion partly reads; “TAKE NOTICE that this Honourable Court will be moved on the day of 2023 at the hour of 9’0 clock in the forenoon or so soon thereafter as counsel may be heard on behalf of the Applicant for the following reliefs:
“A DECLARATION that the Applicant has constitutionally guaranteed rights to freedom of expression and the freedom of movement and liberty, freedom to dignity of human person as contained in Sections 34,35,36 and 39 of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.
“A DECLARATION that the arrest of the Applicant on May 28 2021 by the Respondents was illegal, abuse of powers, executed with excessive force and a violent breach of right to free movement guaranteed under section 41 the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.
“A DECLARATION that the detention of the Applicant from May 28 2021 to June 13 2021 by the 1-3 Respondents at Alagbon Police Station, Ikoyi Lagos was a gross breach to the Applicant’s right to personal liberty, illegal and unjustifiable and contrary to Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.
“A DECLARATION that the violent arrest and 16 days (May 28 2021-June 13 2021) detention of the Applicant was a deliberate, illegal dehumanisation and torture of the Applicant and is a violent breach of his rights to dignity to human person and freedom from torture and contrary to Sections 34, 35, 36 and 39 of the 1999 constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.
“A DECLARATION that the arrest and 16 days detention of the Applicant by the Respondents was deliberate calculated and aimed only at inducing and forcing him to retract and denounce his allegation of maltreatment and cheating against the 1st Respondent.
“A DECLARATION that the forcing of the Applicant by way of torture, cajoling and fraudulent premise to pay him ten million naira to RETRACT and DENOUNCE his complaints and grievances against the 1st Respondent to one blogger Maureen Badejo, is illegal and a gross breach of his fundamental human rights to freedom of expression as enshrined in Sections 34 and 39 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria as Amended.
“AN ORDER that the Respondents pay in damages to the Applicant the sum of 250 million naira for their unlawful and violent arrest of the Applicant on May 28, 2021 at Surulere, Lagos.
“AN ORDER that the Respondents pay in damages to the Applicant the sum of 250 million naira for their illegal and oppressive detention of the Applicant at Alagbon Police Station from May 28 2021 to June 13 2021.
“AN ORDER that the Respondents pay in damages to the Applicant the sum of 250 million naira for their humiliation, torture, emotional anguish, disruption of family life, and psychological trauma of the Applicant.
“AN ORDER that the Respondents pay in damages to the Applicant the sum of 250 million naira for the breach of the Applicant’s freedom of expression on the issue of his stoppage of his salary and wrongful dismissal from work by the Respondent’s organisation (Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry) and as communicated to one Maureen Badejo by forcing him at gunpoint after 16 days of detention to RECOUNT on his earlier position and complaint of being maltreated by the 1st Respondent and his religious organisation (MFM).
“AN ORDER for the 1st-3rd Respondents each, to issue a letter of unconditional apology under the auspices of Nigerian Police (Force) to the Applicant for their illegal, oppressive and brazenly unconstitutional act against the Applicant from May 28 2021 and publishing same apology conspicuously in the Guardian Newspaper and Punch Newspaper.
“AN ORDER OF PERPETUAL INJUNCTION restraining all Respondents whether by themselves or their offices, servants, agents, representatives, privies whatsoever from further arresting, harassing, detaining, assaulting, molesting, intimidating or coercing in any manner, the Applicant over his complaint against the 1st and 2nd Respondents to Maureen Badejo, a blogger except by a competent order of a court.”
“AND FOR SUCH FURTHER OR OTHER ORDERS as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this suit,” it added.
The co-respondents in the suit filed on the applicant’s behalf by his legal team led by Adesina Ogunlana, are the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry, a Superintendent of Police, Tawose Ayoleyi of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, Alagbon, Ikoyi, Lagos, and the Nigerian Police Force.
Meanwhile, the counsel for the applicant, Ogunlana, said the matter would come up for hearing on Tuesday before Justice Taiwo Oladokun.
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2027: Tinubu Dares Obi, Atiku to Showcase Their Achievements in Office, Accuses Them of Abandoning Their Responsibilities
I’m
President Bola Tinubu has criticised former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar over their political affiliations, questioning their leadership credentials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu made the remarks on Friday during his visit to Akwa Ibom State, where he inaugurated projects executed by Governor Umo Eno’s administration and addressed supporters at a political gathering.
Although he did not mention either politician by name, he appeared to refer to Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, and Atiku, who joined the African Democratic Congress after leaving the Peoples Democratic Party.
Referring to Obi’s tenure as Anambra governor, Tinubu accused him of failing to tackle erosion in the state, contrasting it with his own claim of confronting the Atlantic Ocean during his administration as Lagos governor.
“One, who said he is in one party they call NDC, who is running for president. He ran away from erosion. In Anambra State, he could not confront erosion.
“I, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, I confronted the Atlantic Ocean. I claim it for you. Umo Eno confronted the erosion in Akwa Ibom and is working for, he is stable,” the President said.
Tinubu also questioned the political loyalty of a former PDP member who moved to another party, in an apparent reference to Atiku’s defection to the ADC.
“If a man that was, once upon a time, was a baby of PDP, became a father of PDP. And because of a little inconvenience, he ran away from that party. And formed a dangerous ADC in another party. Is that a leadership trait? Is that a leadership character? And he wants you to vote for him?” he said.
Obi governed Anambra State between 2006 and 2014, while Atiku served as Nigeria’s Vice-President from 1999 to 2007 under the PDP.
Atiku contested the 2023 presidential election on the PDP platform, finishing second behind Tinubu, while Obi, who contested under the Labour Party, came third.
Obi left the Labour Party for the NDC in May 2026, while Atiku joined the ADC as part of opposition efforts ahead of the 2027 election.
Tinubu’s reference to Anambra’s erosion problem recalls his 2023 presidential campaign promise to tackle the menace in the state.
During a campaign rally in Awka in February 2023, the then APC presidential candidate promised to address gully erosion in Anambra, saying he would handle it in the same way he claimed to have tackled the Atlantic Ocean surge in Lagos.
“I have come here to promise you development. We will industrialise Nigeria and Anambra State. You know me, I am the city boy of Lagos; I caged the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos; the way I handled the Atlantic Ocean in Lagos, I will handle the erosion menace in Anambra State,” he said at the time.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the long-awaited Ibom Deep Seaport project in Akwa Ibom State.
Tinubu announced the approval on Friday while responding to a request by Governor Umo Eno during a reception and rally held in his honour at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.
The President, who was in the state to inaugurate projects executed by the Eno administration, said the development must promote inclusive growth, create economic value and bring progress to the people.
“Now, development must be even inclusive and reasonable, must bring progress and create economic value. I heard from my friend, my governor, my pastor, on behalf of the people and leadership of Akwa Ibom, request for Ibom’s deep-sea port,” Tinubu said.
After repeating the request, the President asked the crowd, “Will you vote?”
He subsequently declared, “Okay, It’s approved.”
The approval followed a pledge by Eno that Akwa Ibom would deliver two million votes for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027 if the Federal Government delivered the seaport.
“Give us Ibom Deep Seaport, we will deliver two million votes. This deep seaport is capable of unlocking the economy of the state, the South-South region and Nigeria at large,” the governor said.
Eno described the seaport as the most important economic demand of the people of Akwa Ibom, saying it would transform the state’s maritime, industrial and employment landscape.
He said the people of the state had remained loyal to Tinubu since 2023 and were asking him to fulfil his promise to build the facility.
Tinubu had, during his 2023 presidential campaign rally at the same stadium, promised to build the deep seaport, citing the Lekki Deep Seaport, developed during his tenure as Lagos State governor, as an example of what he hoped to achieve in Akwa Ibom.
Eno said the project, conceived during the administration of former Governor Victor Attah as the Ibaka Deep Seaport and Industrial City, had remained unrealised for decades despite featuring in successive presidential campaigns.
“This seaport would serve as a major transhipment hub. It will create thousands of jobs for our people. It will open Akwa Ibom to international trade and investment,” he said.
The governor also said Akwa Ibom had aligned with the Federal Government by joining the All Progressives Congress to attract greater federal presence and development.
He assured Tinubu that the state would mobilise support for his re-election in 2027, saying the seaport would be a major dividend of his administration.
*Says ADC’s leadership that produced him, other candidates illegal
A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the process that led to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate for next year’s presidential election. FollowPolitics
In a judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu also voided the emergence of former Senate President David Mark, ex-Governor of Osun State Rauf Aregbesola, and others as ADC national officers.
Justice Lifu also voided the nominations of all ADC candidates for the 2027 general elections, holding that they emerged from the ADC’s illegal and unlawful leadership.
The judgment was delivered in a suit brought by an aggrieved ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The judge upheld Gombe’s contention that David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged as party leaders through an unlawful and illegal process.
Justice Lifu set aside all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership in the name of ADC, holding that they were unlawful.
Details shortly…
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