In a surprising legal twist, Sunday Baruwa Olowoyeye, a former Zonal Pastor at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM), has initiated legal proceedings against the founder, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja.
Olowoyeye claims he was unlawfully detained for 16 days, fueling a legal battle seeking N250 million in damages.
Serving as a cleric at MFM from 1992 to 2021, Olowoyeye asserts that his troubles began in 2019 when his wife fell seriously ill, prompting him to seek financial assistance from the church.
Alleging that his loan request was rejected, a chain of events unfolded, leading to his termination in April 2020, amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
In the originating Motion on Notice, Olowoyeye cites constitutional violations, claiming infringements of his fundamental rights.
Led by Adesina Ogunlana, his legal team includes co-respondents in the suit: the Incorporated Trustees of MFM, a Superintendent of Police, Tawose Ayoleyi, and the Nigerian Police Force.
Seeking N250 million for what he terms “illegal and oppressive detention” from May 28, 2021, to June 13, 2021, at the Alagbon Police Station, Olowoyeye alleges attempts to address the salary stoppage through letters to Olukoya failed.
Resorting to external help, he contacted blogger Maureen Badejo, who publicized his grievances. Consequently, Olowoyeye claims he was violently arrested, coerced into making a video denouncing his complaints, and detained for 16 days, receiving only N300,000 of a promised N10 million.
In addition to damages sought, Olowoyeye’s Motion on Notice seeks a declaration that his arrest was illegal and an abuse of power, executed with excessive force.
Claiming a gross breach of his right to personal liberty, he asserts that his detention was both illegal and unjustifiable.
Confirmed by Ogunlana, the applicant’s counsel, the matter is scheduled for a hearing before Justice Taiwo Oladokun on Tuesday, addressing alleged violations of Olowoyeye’s fundamental rights and the damages he attributes to the actions of Dr. Daniel Olukoya and other respondents.