| Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard........ by OLAADEGBU(m): 10:32am On Mar 17 |
BREAKING: Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard Arrested For Alleged Cyberbullying, Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya
March 16, 2024
Justice D.T. Olatokun of the High Court in Ikeja, Lagos State, has ordered the immediate release of 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.
This was confirmed to SaharaReporters in a video by his lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana on Friday.
Ayotunde Richards had also 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.
The lawyer said, "I'm still within the premises of Ikeja High Court where we obtained an order. We’ve gotten the certified true copy of the order of Ikeja High court, as per Honourable Justice Olatokun this afternoon, ordering the immediate release of Ayotunde Adewunmi Richard.
"We have gone to see him after the order was delivered, and I have informed him of this important development. I also informed the officer immediately in charge of his case, he is my good friend, DSP Godwin, and I promise that I will bring to him later in the day, a certified true copy of the order. This afternoon, we tried our best and God helped us.
"The chamber has moved down to the office of the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, and served them. And we got to the office of special squad too, of the Lagos Police Command that is, the squad specifically handling the matter and has direct custody of Mr Adewumni Richard. The stamp of the two offices is there. They received it 6:04pm so I expect them to do the needful.
"I have sent a copy to the lawyer electronically since I can’t get him. After we finished the court, my learned friend was no where to be seen again, he was in court, he heard the order.
"We have done the needful. The wife has been coping for about ten days ago, this man has been detained. I want to inform you that Mr Ayodele is in good spirit, he is undaunted. He is calm and when we informed him of development, naturally he was happy. The madam (wife) said he just came back from him and that there is a plan from the police to carry him to federal court on Monday."
Ayotunde who was the leader of the cleric's backup singers had 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.
The spokesperson for the State police command, Benjamin Hundeyin, had confirmed Ayotunde Richards' rearrest, adding that he would be charged.
"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 rearrested on that case," he said.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday show that 12 counts bordering on cyberbullying and libel were filed against Ayotunde Richards at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The charges were filed on March 11, 2024 by N. W. Uhumwangho, Esq., prosecuting counsel and Senior Legal Officer at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) in Yaba, Lagos.
SaharaReporters
BREAKING: Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard Arrested For Alleged Cyberbullying, Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya. |
| Re: Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard........ by PEPPERified: 11:03am On Mar 17 |
We done hear. Next? |
| Re: Judge Orders Immediate Release Of Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richard........ by OLAADEGBU(m): 7:02pm On Mar 18 |
BREAKING: Nigeria High Court Remands Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richards In Ikoyi Prison Over Alleged Cyberbullying, Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya
March 18, 2024
NEWS
Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos State, has ordered that Ayotunde Richards, a gospel singer and former member of Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFM), should be remanded at Ikoyi Custodial Centre.
This is pending the hearing of Ayotunde Richards' bail application scheduled for Wednesday.
His counsel, Mr Adesina Ogunlana told SaharaReporters on Monday that his client was charged and arraigned before the court earlier in the day.
"Ayotunde Richards will be brought back to the court before Justice Allagoa on Wednesday for his bail application.
"Also today, he was at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja for his own case before Justice D.T. Olatokun. That was for his fundamental human rights application and that was adjourned to April 29, 2024," Ogunlana said.
The Nigeria Police Force had filed charges against Ayotunde Richards over a petition from Davidson Adejuwon, who is a lawyer and reportedly an aide to the MFM church founder, Dr Daniel Olukoya.
SaharaReporters reported the arrest of Ayotunde last Monday.
In the petition, the lawyer accused Ayotunde and others of sundry acts of cyberbullying and making libellous claims against 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 Richards had also 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.
SaharaReporters reported on Friday that Justice Olatokun of the High Court in Ikeja had ordered the immediate release of Ayotunde.
This was confirmed to SaharaReporters in a video by his lawyer, Adesina Ogunlana.
However, the police refused to comply with the order.
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters on Friday show that 12 counts bordering on cyberbullying and libel were filed against Ayotunde Richards at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The charges were filed on March 11, 2024 by N. W. Uhumwangho, Esq., prosecuting counsel and Senior Legal Officer at the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (CIID) in Yaba, Lagos.
Count 4 reads: "That you, Ayotunde Richards 'm', on or about the month of December 2023 in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court did intentional send defamatory message or other matter of communication via blogging platform known as ‘Moment of Truth’ a social network captioned: "Olukoya told lies to my form RCCG Pastor to flush me out of the church. He doesn't behave like a Pastor at all which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act 2015."
Another count reads, "That you, Ayotunde Richards 'm', sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional send a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: "Ayotunde Richard" captioned "Pastor employing a criminal Police officer to detain his perceived enemy is NOT the power of God it is religious hooliganism," which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation, needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustee of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015."
Count 9 reads, "That you, Ayotunde Richards 'm', sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, with the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional sent a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: "Ayotunde Richard" captioned "Please rescue me from this woman and my former General Overseer. They are threatening to assassinate me, leaving a church should not end my life", which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya, the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Sec 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015."
Count 10 reads, "That you, Ayotunde Richards 'm', sometimes in February 2024, in Lagos, in the jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did intentional sent a defamatory message or other matter by means of your Facebook handle: "Ayotunde Richard" captioned ‘This Church practically worships the Police. What are they looking for again in the house??" which is grossly offensive, false and for the purpose of causing annoyance, insult, injury, criminal intimidation or needless anxiety to the prejudice of Dr. Daniel Olukoya and the Incorporated Trustees of the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries, a message you knew to be false and thereby commit fence punishable under Section 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (prohibition, prevention, ETC) Act, 2015."
SaharaReporters
BREAKING: Nigeria High Court Remands Former MFM Chorister, Ayotunde Richards In Ikoyi Prison Over Alleged Cyberbullying, Libel Against Church Founder, Olukoya. |
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