Police Rearrest Former MFM Chorister Over Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya

Nigeria Police Rearrest Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard, Over Alleged Cyberbullying, Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya


The Nigerian police have again arrested Ayotunde Richard, a gospel singer and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM), over a petition from Davidson Adejuwon, who is a lawyer and reportedly an aide to the church founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya.

The lawyer accused Ayotunde Richard and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying and libelling Olukoya.

Davidson filed the petition as counsel for one Mrs Sanni, an aide to Olukoya reportedly saddled with the cleric's social media concerns about Olukoya.

The petition was not filed on behalf of Olukoya.

Ayotunde Richard had filed a suit against the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Olukoya, over an alleged breach of his fundamental human rights.

Other respondents in the case are Davison Olaniran Adejuwon Esq; Superintendent of Police Tawose Ayoleyi Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force.

Olukoya, Davidson, Ajayi and the Nigeria Police Force are the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents respectively.

Ayotunde who was the leader of the cleric's backup singers alleged that Olukoya him locked up at the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Ikoyi for eight days.

He described his detention by the police as illegal, oppressive and a brazen abuse of power.

He said that his phones were collected and handed over to Olukoya in an attempt to find the names of the perceived enemies of the church.

According to him, Olukoya used his influence to have him detained in connivance with Superintendent Ayoleyi Tawose Ajayi, who is reportedly a member of MFM and a close ally of the cleric.

Ayotunde also joined Davidson Adejuwon, a legal representative to Olukoya, in the suit.

He accused him of playing critical roles in the perusal of his mobile phones and claimed that his detention in July 2023 at FCID was outrageous.

Ayotunde is asking the court to compel the Respondents to issue a letter of unconditional apology for breaching his Right to Privacy.

However, a team of police officers drawn from the headquarters of the Lagos State Police Command went to arrest Richard in his home on Monday, March 4, interfering with the administration of Justice.

Richard's lawyer, Adeshina Ogunlana on his social media handle on Saturday said the police were acting on the strength of a petition written by an aide to Olukoya, accusing Richards and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying, among others.

He said, "The petition also accused Richards and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying, libel, etc. of Olukoya. Interestingly Davidson petitioned as counsel to one Mrs Sanni, another aide to Olukoya allegedly saddled with the social media concerns of Olukoya and not Olukoya himself.

"The police met Richards at home and identified themselves as police officers from the Lagos State Commissioner of Police Special Squad. They could see him but could not reach him because his doors were locked.

"No visible arms were on them but they were not in their uniforms. They informed him that his attention was needed at their office on account of a petition written against him. Richard asked for the petition and was told that the police did not come with it. He asked for a letter of invitation, but the police did not produce it. He asked for a warrant of arrest, but the police did not produce it.

"Not wasting time, Richard, who was now in panic mode, contacted his lawyer for help and intervention. He remembered his nasty experience the last time police came to his home to arrest him.

"He told his lawyer - my good self - that the police were threatening to break down his back door to arrest. My counsel was 'don't resist them in any way in that venture. Let them go ahead and break it’. The police would later deny that allegation and said no door was hit.

"When I asked the police about the invitation letter and warrant of arrest, I was asked rather to come over myself! The time was about 6.40 pm and Richard's abode was in Magboro, Ogun State.

"By now Richard was broadcasting on Facebook about the siege on his home. The police soon became aware and ordered their operatives to stand down. I soon got down to the head of the Special Squad, a CSP Ugowe.

"We struck a deal, ‘Pull your men away tonight from my client's house and I would bring in my man to you tomorrow unfailingly’. Both of us kept to the deal. Decent.

"The next day, Tuesday, March 5, 2024, saw me and Richard at the police station. The team handling the matter soon presented the petition written by Davidson Adejuwon against him for his response. He replied in my presence.

"He denied specifically knowing or having anything to do with one Adewale Ajimosogbe who re-published the Sahara Reporters story of Richard's 16-billion-naira fundamental human rights case against the MFM leader, Davidson Adejuwon and the Nigeria police but with an added shocking rider of his own 'Olukoya is a criminal and the one behind all illegal acts in MFM.'

"The police brought out Mr Ajimosogbe, a young man, said to be from Ondo state from the cell. He did not recognise Richard. He was emphatic that he had never had anything to do with Richard and he did his own publication on his own only to gain traffic.

"Earlier on, Richard and I had been brought before the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State and after a brief interaction, the CP directed that Richard's statement be taken, released to his lawyer and to come back later.

"To the CP and the investigating team, I informed them that the petition they were treating was connected to a pending case at the Ikeja High Court and coming up the very next day, March 6, 2024.

"Richard was accordingly released and I was told to bring him back on Thursday, 8th March 2024," Ogunlana added.

A source told SaharaReporters that Richard was later detained on Thursday when his lawyer took him to the police station as agreed.

The source said, "They went to court on Wednesday, and at the court, the issue of the arrest was raised. This annoyed the judge. The judge said the case was already in court and they still arrested him.

"The judge reminded the police that they were among those he (Richard) sued. Since he sued the police force, they have no right to go and arrest or detain him. Then the judge commanded that no petition against Richard should be entertained again till the case was over.

"The judge said if they made any attempt to arrest or detain him, he was going to jail the lawyer representing the police. They said the lawyer was scared because the judge was annoyed. The judge is Justice Olatokun, a female. They were then dismissed.

"Then on Thursday, according to the agreement, Ogunlana took Richard to the station to fulfil all righteousness since the judge asked for him not to be detained.

"But when they got there, Richard was detained. Then lots of evidence were brought by Olukoya's lawyer. Richard has been detained since then. Ogunlana has also tried his best and pressed all the buttons he can press, all to no avail.

"The police claimed that the instruction is from above and that nothing can be done about it. Richard was detained even against the judge’s judgment.

"As of Friday, there was no court order for his detention in a police cell," the source added.

SaharaReporters also gathered that at the time of his detention, Richard was not considered a flight risk as he had been to court with his lawyer a few times.

When SaharaReporters contacted the spokesperson for the State police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, for comment on the arrest and detention, he said, "He is with us and we are charging him to court. We have a duly issued demand warrant from the court to keep him till we arraign him.

"He has a different case at Alagbon and the court order is for that particular case, that he should not be re-arrested on that case.”

"We don't have a court order restraining us on this particular case. We will arraign him in court," he added