By Oladele Ogunsola

The collapse of a couple in a Baltimore County Court in Maryland, United States each at 24 hours interval failed to sway the court from slamming a damning $300,000.00 as damages on a US- based Nigerian blogger, Olufunke Ashekun in a case filed against her by Mountain of Fire Miracles Ministries (MFM) USA Inc.

Mrs. Ashekun was accused of making defamatory claims against the church and its General Overseer, Pastor Daniel Kolawole Olukoya and in the ruling delivered on March 13, 2026, in the case of MFM USA Inc. vs. Olufunke Ashekun, the court ordered the defendant to pay the amount as damages.

A day to the judgment, it was reported that Ashekun slumped before the jury delivered its decision and was evacuated from the courtroom by emergency medical personnel.

The following day when her husband came to the court to submit a medical report on her behalf, he too was also said to have collapsed, but despite the incidents, the jury proceeded with deliberations and eventually delivered its verdict.

Mrs Ashekun was found liable by the court for defamation and false light following allegations she made about Olukoya and the church on her blog and other online platforms.

In its judgement, the jury awarded $250,000 as compensatory damages and an additional $50,000 as punitive damages to MFM USA Inc., bringing the total award to $300,000.

In the court records, Ashekun, a former member of the church who runs a blog in the United States had published a series of allegations against the MFM General Overseer, accusing him of manipulating and molesting female members of the church.

However, the court ruled that the statements were defamatory and damaging to the reputation of the church and its leader and also held that the online campaign carried out by Ashekun had negatively affected the professional integrity and public reputation of Olukoya and the church.

Reacting to the judgement delivered by a unanimous jury, the plaintiffs described it as “a major legal victory and a vindication of the church”.