A United Kingdom court has awarded £100,000 in damages to the founder of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr. Daniel Olukoya, and his wife, following the conclusion of a defamation lawsuit against blogger Maureen Badejo.
The judgment was delivered by the UK High Court of Appeal, Queen’s Bench Division, with Mr Justice Lavender presiding.
The court upheld earlier rulings issued by Master Thormett on April 13, 2021, and February 3, 2022, in Suit No. QB-2020-003625.
According to the court, statements published online by Badejo about Dr. Olukoya and his wife were found to be false and defamatory. As a result, the blogger was ordered to pay £65,000 in damages to Dr. Olukoya and £35,000 to his wife.
In addition to the financial penalties, the court directed the defendant to publicly retract the defamatory claims and publish a summary of the judgment across her social media platforms.
Justice Lavender also dismissed Badejo’s application for permission to appeal, stating that it lacked merit. Citing Civil Procedure Rule 52.4(3), the court ruled that the decision could not be reconsidered at an oral hearing.
“The proposed grounds of appeal are both hopeless and pointless,” the judge ruled, affirming the earlier decisions of the lower court.
The judgment underscores the position of UK courts on defamation, reaffirming that individuals are legally protected against false and damaging allegations, particularly when made through online platforms.