UK Charity Commission Freezes Over 100 Bank Accounts Linked to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries

The UK Charity Commission has frozen more than 100 bank accounts linked to the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM), the Nigerian-founded church established by Dr. Daniel Olukoya. The action, announced on Tuesday, follows a lengthy investigation into the church’s financial management across its UK branches.

According to findings published on the Commission’s website, MFM’s trustees failed to maintain adequate financial controls and governance structures, putting donor funds at risk. The Commission noted that the church’s UK operations had expanded rapidly—from just a few branches to over 90—without developing corresponding systems for oversight and accountability.

Investigators discovered that over 100 bank accounts were opened and managed independently by different branches, often without the knowledge or approval of the central leadership. Some branches reportedly made major financial decisions, including property purchases and leases, without trustee authorisation. Others operated premises without proper planning permissions, leading to legal and financial complications.

The Commission’s final report concluded that MFM’s financial systems were weak and inconsistent, resulting in serious risks to charitable funds. Poor employment practices also led to costly settlements, and the lack of a unified accounting framework made oversight difficult.

In response to mounting concerns, the Commission appointed an interim manager on 1 August 2019 to work with MFM’s trustees and restore financial discipline. The interim oversight remained in place until September 2024, when the manager was discharged after implementing key reforms.

Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, said the case underscored the risks of rapid growth without adequate governance. “The trustees’ fundamental failure to maintain financial controls meant donor funds were at serious risk across their entire network,” she said. Spiller added that the charity is now expected to operate under stricter financial controls to ensure future compliance.

Following the inquiry’s conclusion, the Commission froze the charity’s assets to prevent further financial risk and confirmed that MFM had agreed to a regulatory action plan aimed at strengthening transparency and governance.

As of press time, neither MFM nor its founder, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, had issued a public statement addressing the Commission’s findings. Efforts to reach Olukoya’s media aide, Collins Edomaruse, were unsuccessful.

The case highlights growing scrutiny of Nigerian-founded churches operating abroad, several of which—including SPAC Nation and Christ Embassy—have faced similar investigations in recent years over financial and governance concerns.