A blogger, Adewale Ajimisogbe, who once spearheaded defamatory claims against Dr. D.K. Olukoya, the General Overseer of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), has entered a plea bargain deal with prosecutors to escape sentence.
The blogger is first defendant in the criminal case FHC/L/168C/2024, at the federal High Court Ikoyi, struck a deal to avoid a potentially harsh prison sentence.
In exchange, he issued a public apology, published a formal retraction, and agreed to forfeit N50,000 to the state — a light punishment compared to the full weight of the Cyber Crime Act penalties he initially faced.
It would be recalled that in February 2024, Ayotunde Richards, a former MFM member and singer — now the second defendant in the case — launched a barrage of defamatory publications against Dr. Olukoya on the social media.
Richards’ accusations, which were widely circulated with the help of bloggers like Ajimisogbe, included sensational claims and a N15.5 billion lawsuit for alleged fundamental rights breaches.
One viral headline from Ajimisogbe’s platform branded Olukoya a criminal, escalating tensions within the MFM community and prompting swift legal action.
Alarmed by the spread of what they described as “unabated lies,” Dr. Olukoya’s team filed a formal criminal complaint.
Facing the reality of trial and a strong prosecution case, Ajimisogbe opted to plead for leniency.
According to a Certified True Copy of the court order dated April 11, 2025, Ajimisogbe showed genuine remorse, apologized publicly to Dr. Olukoya — whom he referred to as “like a father” — and promised to refrain from future defamatory actions.
With his fine paid and apology accepted, Ajimisogbe is now free from all charges, officially clearing his name from the court’s proceedings.
Meanwhile, all eyes are now on Ayotunde Richards, the remaining defendant. His trial has been adjourned to June 3, 2025, where he will face his charges alone.
The case underscores a growing trend in Nigeria’s legal system of utilizing plea bargains to expedite cybercrime and defamation proceedings, while offering offenders a second chance through restitution and public acknowledgment of wrongdoing
