A perpetual injunction restraining Maureen Badejo from publishing further defamatory words against or concerning Dr. Daniel Olukoya, his family and the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, has been granted by a London High Court.
It would be recalled that on February 9, 2021, an Abeokuta High Court awarded N250million each to the Olukoyas and MFM (making a total N500 million) as aggravated and exemplary damages for libel committed against them by Badejo.
The Queen’s Bench Division Judge who gave the ruling, Master Gary Thornett, also ordered Badejo to pay the legal costs incurred by the Olukoyas in the suit.
He ruled that further court session(s) would be held to determine the actual cost to be awarded to Dr Olukoya, his family and the Church.
The hearing, which began at 10:30am on Tuesday, April 13, finished at about 1:05pm.
The claimants instituted the suit following several claims (no fewer than 52) allegedly made against them by Badejo and her GIO TV on YouTube and Facebook.
In her counter-claim Badejo demands monies allegedly lost by her from the shutting down of some of her broadcasts by You-Tube and Facebook sequel to complaints from Dr. Olukoya’s lawyers.
But, dismissing her claim, Master Thornet described it as a “frivolous”, and an abuse of process.
He held: “it is overwhelmingly clear that the nature of this defamation is severe and serious…..and that the number of publications are considerable”.
Responding to the ruling, Dr Olukoya, his family and the Church said in a statement: “These victories are a tribute to the Lord our God who would never permit evil to triumph over righteousness”.
Badejo had earlier claimed that Mr Olukoya and his church, the claimants, duped the United States Government by selling his books in the U.S. without paying due tax.
She also alleged that a pastor from MFM in the UK paid £150,000 into the personal account of Mr Olukoya and then went to Nigeria to meet the cleric so he could help him cover up his fraud.
