The U S Court of appeal sitting in Maryland has upheld the $300,000 fines slammed on controversial blogger, Funke Ashekun for defaming the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr DK Olukoya and the church.
In the current rate of dollar to naira (about N130 to a dollar), Ashekun will pay Dr Olukoya N39 million according to the court ruling.
Recall that Funke Ashekun and her husband collapsed inside the Baltimore Court and an ambulance was called to take them to the hospital because of the heavy fines which the Jurist says it would serve as punitive damages for impugned on the reputation of Dr Olukoya, she was also asked to pay $50,000 which is about N6.5 million to the MFM.
In a binding order handed down by the Appellate Court of Maryland on Thursday, 7 May, 2026 in the matter of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA, INC vs Olufunke Ashekun, Appellee Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA, INC’s Motion to Dismiss the Appeal and Reply Memorandum of Law were successfully granted and as a result, Appellant Ashekun’s appeal has been dismissed pursuant to Maryland law.
Appellee’s successful prosecution of claims of Defamation and False Light in Baltimore County Circuit Court on the 13th of March 2026 which resulted in a binding Court order against Olufunke Ashekun for compensatory damages will stand.
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries USA, INC is pleased the Appellate Court of Maryland recognized that the basis of Olufunke Ashekun’s appeal was without merit.
