Former MFM Pastor Takes Legal Action Against Olukoya Over Alleged Illegal Detention, Seeks N250m Damages

Sunday Baruwa Olowoyeye, a former Zonal Pastor at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM), has filed a lawsuit against the Founder and General Overseer, Dr. Daniel Olukoya. Olowoyeye alleges that he was unlawfully detained for 16 days at the instance of Olukoya, and he is seeking N250 million in damages.

The lawsuit, brought before the Lagos High Court, Ikeja, cites violations of fundamental rights and includes an originating Motion on Notice based on relevant constitutional provisions. Olowoyeye contends that his detention at the Alagbon Police Station from May 28, 2021, to June 13, 2021, was both illegal and oppressive.

According to the court documents made available to PM News, Olowoyeye’s legal team, led by Adesina Ogunlana, has named the Incorporated Trustees of MFM, a Superintendent of Police, Tawose Ayoleyi of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department, and the Nigerian Police Force as co-respondents in the suit.

Olowoyeye, who served as a cleric at MFM from 1992 to 2021, alleges that his troubles began when he sought financial assistance from the church for his ailing wife in 2019. Despite approaching the church leadership, including Pastor Simeon Tioluwani and Dr. Olukoya, he claims to have received no response.

The former MFM pastor asserts that his employment was terminated after he wrote letters of complaint about the stoppage of his salaries. In response, he contacted a blogger to share his grievances, leading to his alleged violent arrest by four policemen, orchestrated by Ayoleyi.

Olowoyeye claims he was detained for 16 days and coerced into making a video denouncing his complaints in exchange for a promised N10 million. However, he alleges that he only received N300,000 and was later offered N500,000 after being asked to write an apology letter to Dr. Olukoya.

In addition to seeking N250 million in damages, Olowoyeye’s Motion on Notice requests the court to declare his arrest and detention as illegal, an abuse of power, and a breach of his fundamental human rights. The case is set to be heard on Tuesday before Justice Taiwo Oladokun.