These signs show the girl is a keeper and you should propose to her at the right time.
She’s happy around you If a woman likes you, she always tries to be with you. She loves your companionship and she doesn’t stop smiling because she is comfortable around you. She loves your aura, energy and great personality.
Downplays other guys She wants you to know that there are other guys interested in her. But she doesn’t want you to think she finds them interesting. So, she may not even bring up other guys, and if she does, she does it to see your reaction.
You’ve met her friends If she really likes you and wants to move a step further in the relationship, she will introduce you to her friends. Her friends will analyze you from head to toe and delve into your occupation and family background. Although the comments don’t really matter in your relationship, it is a sign of relief for you and your girlfriend.
She shares her secrets with you Trusting someone is a risk and when someone opens up to you then you should know she really loves you. She wants an emotional bond with you and you should reciprocate her love and trust.
She tries to make you jealous Jealousy is the easy way to get someone’s attention. If she mentions other guys or flirts with other guys in front of you, she just to see what your reaction is. She wants you to fight for her love.
She spends time and money on her appearance Makeup products and designer clothes are really expensive. If she persistently looks extremely good and smells romantic any time you invite her out, this tells she wants more than mere friendship.
She just says it If you find a woman who just tells you how she feels without you having to dissect her every single move, keep her. Take her in your arms and never let go. You found a keeper, a rare gem.
She makes future plans When a girl starts suggesting things for the two of you to do in a couple of weeks, or even a couple of months, it seems pretty obvious she’s got you in her long term plan.
She cares about you and your family She likes spending time with you and tries to check up on you at work. She helps you out when she can and appreciate, if not participate, in your hobbies.
So if you find your girl inquiring about work problems, doing your dishes and watching you beat your top score on (insert video game of your choice here), you’ve found yourself a keeper.
The Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre (Glory Dome), Abuja, Paul Enenche, has secretly laid off the Department of State Services lead agent of the church as part of a plot to absolve the church of the continued detention of the five #BuhariMustGo protesters.
SaharaReporters learnt on Thursday that Enenche let go of the church’s DSS lead agent to cover up the church’s involvement all along in the arrest and detention of the activists.
The activists, including a blind church saxophonist, have now spent about two weeks in the DSS detention as families also worry about their welfare and medical care.
The detained activists are; Ben Manasseh, Emmanuel Larry, Samuel Gabriel, Anene Victor Udoka, and Henry Nwodo.
Last Sunday, the family members of the protesters had stormed the Glory Dome in Abuja to protest against the continued detention of their wards, but they were also roundly harassed and molested by the security agents who had mobilised to the premises in large numbers. Pastor Enenche in an attempt to cover up the involvement of the church in the matter has asked the lead DSS agent in the church, who the church used in handing them over to the DSS, to leave the church for now.
“Enenche also admitted to the church elders that approached him on the matter that he initially consented to handing them over to the DSS to show to the Buhari regime that he was opposed to the #BuhariMustGo campaign and to punish Sowore for negative reporting against his church,” a top source said.
The respondents are; the State Security Service, the Director-General of the SSS, the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Pastor-in-charge of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Pastor Paul Enenche.
The suit is being heard at the Federal High Court of Nigeria; Abuja judicial division.
Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, who had also gone to the church in company of fellow activist, Deji Adeyanju, shared the court papers, noting that the five detained activists had sued the DSS and the church authorities over the violations of their human rights.
Human Rights lawyers, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has decried what he described as the dangerously shrinking civil space in Nigeria, as well as rising insecurity and poverty in the land, noting that the country is in perilous times.
Speaking at the 13th Wole Soyinka Centre Media Lecture held in Lagos on Tuesday to mark the 87th birthday anniversary of Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, Falana who was chairperson of the occasion, regretted that while the country is drifting off course, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is busy chasing shadows.
Falana wondered why, for example, the Buhari government is still looking for cattle routes in the 21st century where there are already organic beef.
“How can you be looking for grazing routes in the 21st century, where you have organic beef? It is animal husbandry,” he said. “Look at Botswana, a small country of barely two million people, but the cattle population there is 2.5 million. That country has market and everything for animal husbandry, so it’s not rocket science to produce beef and distribute.”
The rights activist noted that while the country is facing serious security and economic problems, and amid calls for electoral reforms, Buhari is appointing Lauretta Onochie as INEC commissioner.
“For me we are in very perilous times,” he said. “But we are still talking about Onochie, how to make her INEC commissioner.”
Falana said it was time serious minded people joined politics, as according to him, the politics of NGOs can no longer help the country when criminal minded people are running the parliament.
He pointed out that today’s world has moved beyond oil to knowledge economy, and that Nigeria cannot afford to continue with people who are fixated on oil.
“Nobody has time for oil again. It is knowledge economy. We have a situation today where countries that has no natural resources are ahead of the rest, while those of us that are rich in resources are poor.
“Our economy is all about people going to Abuja to share poverty. The money we make from oil, what is it? We make about $30 billion per year.
Have you heard about the ancient town, Ijebu-Ife in the Ijebu territory of Ogun state wherein there’s a renowned community known as Igbomoku?
Igbomoku, a village in the ancient town of Ijebu-Ife harbours a mystery that no human alive is yet to decipher. It is located in Ogun state, South-Western region of Africa’s most populous nation and the fifth most populous country in the world, Nigeria.
The only known place in the whole world where no police officer, military officer, or any other uniformed personnel dares to enter while on their uniform is Igbomoku community in Ijebu-Ife.
For doubting Thomases;
The story is told of a certain police officer who hailed from the mysterious community but worked far away from his hometown – and was returning home to visit his parents and relatives after many years of leaving Igbomoku due to his joining the police force.
The young police officer, on getting into the Ijebu-Ife township was spotted by some indigenous people of the community who knowing that he was heading to Igbomoku to see his family and was dorned in the police uniform, sternly warned him not to go into his community with his uniform on. Some even offered him a space in their homes for him to change from his uniform into a mufti citing the danger he was likely to incure if he enters Igbomoku with the police uniform on, but the young officer declined their offers and turned deaf hears to their warnings. Of course, the young police officer who hailed from Igbomoku was not oblivious of the agelong mystery of the town wherein he was born and bred, but alas, he was blinded by his ego due to his orthodox education and socialization.
On getting into Igbomoku community, midway to the home where he grew up – the young police officer discovered that his uniform was getting stuck on his body – unable to comprehend what was wrong, he tried pulling the parts of his unform that was stuck to his body – but as he pulled different parts of his uniform – the parts of his flesh stuck to the uniform was pulled along with his clothes, citing that he was in great danger, he ran towards home.
His family, seeing their son running home in a police uniform knew for sure that there was fire on the mountain.
Discovering that his whole uniform had been stuck to his body, they took him to various African traditional healers within and without Ijebu-Ife hoping to find a remedy for his predicament all to no avail.
Unfortunately, the young man died with his police uniform on few days later as no one, including the traditional healers in Igbomoku and the whole of Ijebu-Ife was able to find a remedy to his predicament, hence he was buried in his uniform.
Myself, being from Ijebu-Ife used to doubt the veracity of this story and the truthfulness of the acclaimed mystery; even as i grew older as a critical thinker my doubt concerning this mysterious community grew even more stronger.
My curiosity about the community waxed so strong that at some point I was willing to join the police force Ir the military after gradeated from the University, travel down in my uniform to my hometown in Ijebu-Ife, and visit Igbomoku community while documenting my sojourn. Unfortunately, i changed my mind – the police or the military was no longer appealing to me by the time I graduated from the University, and I was not ready to use myself as a scapegoat or a catspaw all in my bid to prove a point negating an agelong preserved cultured and a conserved mystery.
However, on October 5, 2009, crisis broke out in Ijebu-Ife wherein the Ogun state Police Area Commander and a few others were killed. The crisis emanated from the killing of a hearing-impared fashion designer who was allegedly killed by vigilantes who were watching over a part of Ijebu-Ife town known as Oke-Ife at night. I would have loved to write more about the aftermath of the occurrence on that night, but that’s not the story.
So, in 2009, while the crisis was ongoing and the government deployed battalions of police officers all fully armed, with armour tanks and RPGs into Ijebu-Ife to douse the crisis and arrest the fighters – something notewothy happened.
As the police officers ravaged the nooks and crannies of Ijebu-Ife, burning houses, killing able bodied men, and raping women, while the whole town was in dissaray and majority of Ijebu-Ife residents had fled to neighbouring towns, the police officers never dared step their foot on Igbomoku community.
From my research and inquiry concerning the October 5, 2009 crisis which is now known as the “Ijebu-Ife Crisis” – I was informed that the officers of the Nigeria police force who were deployed to Ijebu-Ife during the crisis were sternly warned by the king, and even police officers who hailed from Ijebu-Ife not to step their foot in Igbomoku except they’re willing to die mysteriously.
Elsie Okpocha, wife of comedian Basketmouth, has made a joke about the man that got her pregnant with her third child.
The restaurateur revealed the man’s identity in an Instagram post on Tuesday which was also her birthday.
Thanking those who sent her birthday greetings, Elsie wrote “BTW have you met the man that got me pregnant???
“His name is Bright Okpocha, most people know him as BASKETMOUTH.
“I just want to thank him for doing a good job.”
She had earlier shared a series of racy pregnancy pictures with the message “A Happy Birthday to me!!!!!
“God did finally hear one of major prayers and I can’t thank him enough.
“He has made me one of the happiest girls in the world.
“This is my TESTIMONY.
“It’s A NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!”
Confirming the challenges she had with birthing her third child, Elsie wrote in another post: “I prayed for this, endlessly
“I craved for it desperately (yea even after 2 kids, lol)
And after 3 miscarriages….
“God said it was time… His perfect time!!!
“It’s A NEW CHAPTER!!!!!!”
Basketmouth also shared his wife’s pregnancy pictures, confirming that their baby was born last month.
“Happy birthday darling dearest Elsie Okpocha. I am so blessed to have an amazon for a wife.
“Here’s wishing you the very best things in life….which starts from me.
“P.S: Thanks for updating my fatherhood licence a month ago, I am now upgraded to version 4,” he wrote.
In another post with pictures of himself whispering in his wife’s ear, the comedian wrote “Elsie Okpocha if you can remember the exact words I said that made you laugh, I’m buying you a brand new of whatever you want.”
Basketmouth, who has a child from another relationship, has two other children with his wife. They are a boy and a girl named Jason and Janelle respectively.
Top Nigerian pastors and religious leaders were absent as the founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations, Temitope Balogun Joshua, aka TB Joshua, was laid to rest on Friday.
Its reported that T.B Joshua, who was laid to rest in the church premises at Ikotun, Lagos, died a few days to his 58 birthday anniversary.
The cleric was said to have died after concluding a programme at the Synagogue Church Of All Nations on Saturday, June 5.
SCOAN had at a news conference on June 29 said that July 5 to July 11 would be dedicated for a series of Joshua’s ‘laying to rest’ activities tagged: ‘Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Prophet Joshua (1963 to 2021)’.
Among the top pastors absent are Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Pastor Sam Adeyemi of Daystar; Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church also known as Winners Chapel; W.F Kumuyi of Deeper Life Church; Paul Enenche of Dunamis Church; Lazarus Mouka of the Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Church.
However, some prominent Nigerians and dignitaries, including the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu; the Aare Oona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Aare Gani Adams; Wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Adeyeye; a former Minister for Aviation, Mr Femi Fani-Kayode and High Chief Bibopere Ajube, attended the funeral.
Also, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was represented by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olarewaju Elegushi.
When the televangelist died, the Christian Association of Nigeria and many pastors were initially silent.
However, 72 hours after the death of the founder of the SCOAN, CAN issued a terse statement to condole his family and SCOAN congregation.
The condolence, which observers believed was belated, came following condemnation of its silence among Christendom and several organisations in the social media.
Critics wondered why CAN would commiserate with others but would wait for a long time before making a statement on Prophet T. B. Joshua.
Also, the absence of many of the pastors has received a mixed reaction on social media, especially Twitter.
“Oh get a grip all of you in the comments, nobody hated him, it was an issue of doctrine on salvation, apparently the deceased had his own philosophy which many thought to be contrary to bible. If you notice, I included, I haven’t seen the deceased make an altar call for repentant souls,” a tweep, @black_ash422, said.
“I sincerely don’t understand why many of them didn’t go. We are humans and not God, we should not judge others. They deserve to pay him last respects,” another tweep, @Chukwu, added.
Marriage has three stages. The first stage is called honey moon and lasts about two years. This stage is very sweet, nice and romantic. This is where you find names like honey, sweet heart, baby and so on.
In this stage, everything is perfect. This is a stage where a man returns home and dumps his socks and shoes anywhere but in the morning, he will wake up and find them placed where they’re supposed to be. This is where madam doesn’t go to bed until you return home. She sits in the living room and receives all the mosquito bites waiting for you till you return, take a shower and enjoy supper. Even if you return at midnight, you find her waiting for you. Wait and see what happens in the second stage.
This first stage is beautiful with alot of tolerance. This is a stage where at night while in bed, you release a very toxic gas and your spouse instead apologizes. Remember, you have gassed but again he tells you, “Sorry darling, it’s okaaaaaay.” This is unbelievable. Madam has gassed but to you, it’s okay. Oh my God, this is sweet. Everything is just merry making during this stage. In conclusion, Enjoy this stage for as much as we can.
The second stage lasts for ten years! This is where honey moon is over. This stage is red hot. During this stage, perhaps financial challenges have come in. You have given birth and the children are also disturbing you. Sometimes you are yet to give birth but really want to and the pressure on you is mounting from all corners. Landlords have become Landlords. There is loss of employment. Things are just tight.
Life is hard in this second stage. The man who used to return home early now returns very late. Sometimes he doesn’t even return home. There are suspicions of infidelity and cheating. You don’t trust each other. You feel your spouse is cheating, and infact he or she is cheating. When you return home and leave your shoes outside, in the morning, you find them where you left them. Things are hot here.
This is a stage where at night, you release a toxic gas and your partner asks what you ate during supper time yet you ate the same meals. He can even leave the bed and spend the night in the sitting room simply because you gassed. Imagine only gassing.
The second stage is hot. There are fights; spiritual, physical and in all aspects. This is the stage where you reach the point of considering separating. Each spouse shows his or her true colours in this stage. A night dancer switches on the reggae, mixes the music and punches the baseline. Your relatives taste the greedy side of your wife.
Those who persevere and overcome this stage end up keeping their marriage till death does them part. However, very many hang up the towel in this stage. They quit. In conclusion, Those who are in this stage should fight a little longer, not to hang up the towel. There is light at the end of the tunnel. Just a little longer and you are done with this heat.
Finally, there’s the last stage. This comes after the ten red hot years. This last stage is lukewarm. It’s neither cold or hot. You gas at large and no one applauds you or complains. You have seen enough of each other. You have known each other’s true colours.
In this stage, whatever your partner does no longer surprises you. If she quarrels, you just say that is the nature of this woman. If he is still late out in the night, you don’t even bother to call since you know he will return. If she doesn’t serve you food and you feel hungry, you just go and serve food otherwise, hunger hits you for nothing.
This stage is not for disturbing one another. There is alot of calmness and commands are few. This is where if you are watching TV with her in the sitting room and you feel thirsty, you don’t send her to bring for you drinking water but only wait when she’s moving to the direction where there is water and you tell her if she is coming back, she can come along with some water. If she asks you to repeat what you just said, you have to pretend like you didn’t say anything. All of a sudden, she shocks you and returns with drinking water. There is mutual respect in this stage. In conclusion, Those in this stage should just work for eternity. congratulations to those who are in this stage for, they have come from far. Amen and amen
Have a wonderful reflection on this post. This can be related to new couple to-be, less than ten years marriage & finally btw 20 – 80 years of marriage
Marriage means manage till eternity Approved.
Married And Singles
“1. Dear married couples, there is no such legal personality known as “Mr and Mrs Okoro”. You can only have “Mr Kenneth Okoro” or “Mrs Patricia Okoro”. You might just be creating a legal problem for yourselves when you use “Mr and Mrs Okoro” to buy those goods or properties.
Dear married couples (especially those who are married under the Act), all things being equal, it is adviced that you change your next of kin to your spouse after wedding from your sibling or anybody else you used before wedding. Making your spouse your next of kin makes it easier for them to process any accrued benefits especially if either of you die intestate (without leaving a will).
Dear intending couples, there are only two types of marriages recognised in Nigeria; 1. Marriage under the Act (Matrimonial Causes Act and Marriage Act), 2. Marriage not under the Act (Marriage under Islamic Law and Marriage Under Customary Law).
The first is monogamous in nature while the latter is restricted polygamous and unrestricted polygamous in nature. For intending couples of the christian faith, there is no such thing as “church wedding”; at least under the law.
If your church is a “licensed place of worship”, what they conduct there is a “Marriage under the Act”. If your church is not a licensed place of worship and you only conducted customary marriage without going to the marriage registry, what they would have done in your church may just be a celebration and the blessing of your customary marriage.
If your church is a licensed place of worship, wedding in church and also going to the marriage registry are one and the same thing (Marriage Under the Act). Meaning a waste of resources and duplicity of purpose.
4. Dear Boyfriend and Girlfriend, promising your partner that you would marry them when you know you have no intention of doing so may give rise to a civil action of breach of promise to marry resulting in damages (compensation) and the restitution of all monies spent and gifts given. It may also give rise to a criminal action of obtaining by false pretence.
As an addendum or footnote to 1 above –
If you are really interested in buying a property as a couple then your names should appear in the agreement as Mr. Sunday Essien and Mrs. Maria Sunday Essien instead of Mr and Mrs Sunday Essien.”
You can also talk to lawyer whose core practice area is family law to advise you on these things and more.
Alleged Defamatory Publication: US Court Sanctions Mountain Of Fire Founder, Daniel Olukoya For Misleading Court, Orders Him To Pay $7,320 To Sowore
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
AUnited States District Court in Maryland has ordered the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, to pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alleging defamatory publications.null
The court, in a ruling by US Magistrate Judge, Timothy Sullivan, and obtained by SaharaReporters, titled, “DKT 75 Order re – Motion for Sanctions 18-cv-02922,” added that Olukoya was also “prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis.”
SaharaReporters had published stories involving Olukoya in September 2017 when some church members in Maryland accused him of importing religious books without paying customs duties.
It had been revealed that the church dragged some of its former pastors and members to court over monetary and property disputes.
The sued pastor and former church members had, in turn, accused the General Overseer of engaging in fraudulent activities in the US, including evasion of duties owed to US authorities.
Also joined in the suit had been the Christ the Truth Ministry, the successor of MFM Bowie.
At issue are real property described as 5506 and 5503 Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, which were acquired by MFM Bowie in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Also in contention are funds for the MFM building in Bowie.
Highlighting the Sahara Reporters publication of September 27, 2017, entitled “Former Mountain Of Fire Miracles Ministries Pastors Accuse General Overseer, Olukoya, Of Illegal Importation Of Goods In US Property Dispute,” Olukoya and the church lawyers had stated in its 49-paragraph complaint their three causes of action which were; “defamation, defamation per se and false light.”
They, therefore, claimed an award against all defendants to compensate for all economic damages sustained as a result of their tortious conduct; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual reputational damage; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual damages resulting from mental anguish and emotional distress; an award against all defendants of punitive damages; attorney’s fees and costs.
SaharaReporters had, nonetheless, in August 2020 also reported that Olukoya was considering taking another legal action against the online news publication to stop it from reporting about the United Kingdom Charity Commission scandal involving his church.
Olukoya, in a letter written by his lawyer, Ime Nya Asanga, had alleged that SaharaReporters levelled false allegations against him and the MFM board of trustees.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the UK Charity Commission appointed an interim manager for the MFM in August 2019.
The commission, in a statement, said the interim manager assumes these duties at the exclusion of the charity’s trustees, stating that the trustees retain control over matters relating to religious activities.
The UK charity regulator claimed it had serious concerns over MFM Chair of Trustees, Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his handling of serious incidents.
It accused Olukoya of illegally meeting a former employee of the charity alleged to have stolen between £150,000 and £190,000 of the charity’s funds in Nigeria, then entered into an agreement with the individual without consulting with other trustees.
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
While all the cases in Nigeria had been dismissed, the one in the US was decided only on June 24, 2021.
While ruling on the suit, the US District Court magistrate said Olukoya should pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against Sowore while alleging defamatory publications.
The magistrate said, “Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya brought this lawsuit against the Defendants to recover for purported defamatory statements that the Defendants made about him and his church in an article published on September 27, 2017.2 See ECF No. 73. During discovery, the Defendants sought information related to the U.K. Charity Commission’s investigation of Olukoya’s church. ECF No. 72 at 1-2. When Olukoya failed to provide the requested discovery, the Defendants filed a motion to compel (ECF No. 55). Among the discovery requests at issue was a request for “[a]ll documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” ECF No. 55-3 at 13.
“In response to the motion to compel, Olukoya stated that he had responded to the discovery requests and that the motion to compel was therefore moot. ECF No. 59. Thereafter, the court held a telephone conference to address a related dispute (whether Olukoya would be required to produce discovery responses directed to a party whose claims had been dismissed), but otherwise treated the Defendants’ motion to compel as moot.
“Unfortunately, Olukoya’s response to the motion to compel contained a serious misrepresentation; he had not produced any “documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” See ECF No. 68 at 5 (noting that Olukoya produced no documents responsive to this request). And at 1 Judge Chuang referred this case to me for all discovery and related scheduling matters. ECF No. 57. 2 Other claims that Olukoya brought against the Defendants have been dismissed. ECF No. 26. Olukoya’s deposition, which was held on April 23, 2021, Olukoya testified that there were “tons and tons of documents in [his] possession” that relate to the inquiry by the U.K. Charity Commission. ECF No. 72-8 at 34.”
The magistrate added that the defendants, therefore, sought sanctions against Olukoya for his failure to produce the requested documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission.
The magistrate said, “The conclusion is that; for the reasons set forth above, the Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions will be granted in part and denied in part. The court will enter the following sanctions against the Defendants: Olukoya is prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis other than Fed. R. Evid. 401 and 403.
“Olukoya will also be required to pay the Defendants’ reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection with his discovery failures, which total $7,320.00, within 30 days of the date of this Order. Payment should be made directly to the Defendants’ attorneys. These sanctions are entered against Olukoya pursuant to Rules 37(c) and 26(g).”
Meanwhile, in the response of Olukoya’s legal team to the court, it already admitted that the said online publications did not lead to any harm for the church.
The court papers obtained by SaharaReporters said, “Defendant Omoyele Sowore’s Request for Admissions. Responses 1. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya did not suffer any economic harm due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 2. Admit that no contract between Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya and any individual, corporation, or entity was terminated due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 3. Admit that no member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church resigned from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 4. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya cannot identify a single individual who decided not to become a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 5. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Mountain of Fire and Miracles. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.
“6. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 7. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a website that provides information about its ministry to the public.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 8. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a YouTube page that airs Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s sermons. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 9. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s Facebook page identifies him as a public figure. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 10. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya is a public figure for purposes of this defamation action. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.”
The lawyers representing Sowore in the suit stated that they would donate the $7,320 sanction fees to be paid by Olukoya to Sowore’s ongoing court cases in Nigeria where the government dragged him to court over trumped-up charges.
“Based on Olukoya’s gamesmanship in failing to provide relevant discovery materials (particularly has failed to timely produce any documents relating to the UK Charity Commission investigation), we filed a motion asking magistrate judge Sullivan to impose discovery sanctions on Olukoya. We’re delighted to report that at the end of last week, magistrate Sullivan issued the attached decision finding that Olukoya misled the court and awarding $7,320 in attorneys’ fees against Olukoya personally.
“Olukoya is required to pay us the $7,320 in attorneys’ fees within 30 days. And Lisa and I would like to donate the $7,320 to SaharaReporters to help defray Sowore’s legal defence in Nigeria.
“That’s where things currently stand. In the next few weeks, we’ll be conducting additional limited depositions of Olukoya and Grace Ugeh, which the magistrate has permitted so that we can question each of them about documents they improperly failed to produce until after they were deposed,” one of the lawyers stated.
Alleged Defamatory Publication: US Court Sanctions Mountain Of Fire Founder, Daniel Olukoya For Misleading Court, Orders Him To Pay $7,320 To Sowore
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
AUnited States District Court in Maryland has ordered the founder of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, to pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, alleging defamatory publications.null
The court, in a ruling by US Magistrate Judge, Timothy Sullivan, and obtained by SaharaReporters, titled, “DKT 75 Order re – Motion for Sanctions 18-cv-02922,” added that Olukoya was also “prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis.”
SaharaReporters had published stories involving Olukoya in September 2017 when some church members in Maryland accused him of importing religious books without paying customs duties.
It had been revealed that the church dragged some of its former pastors and members to court over monetary and property disputes.
The sued pastor and former church members had, in turn, accused the General Overseer of engaging in fraudulent activities in the US, including evasion of duties owed to US authorities.
Also joined in the suit had been the Christ the Truth Ministry, the successor of MFM Bowie.
At issue are real property described as 5506 and 5503 Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, which were acquired by MFM Bowie in 2001 and 2004, respectively. Also in contention are funds for the MFM building in Bowie.
Highlighting the Sahara Reporters publication of September 27, 2017, entitled “Former Mountain Of Fire Miracles Ministries Pastors Accuse General Overseer, Olukoya, Of Illegal Importation Of Goods In US Property Dispute,” Olukoya and the church lawyers had stated in its 49-paragraph complaint their three causes of action which were; “defamation, defamation per se and false light.”
They, therefore, claimed an award against all defendants to compensate for all economic damages sustained as a result of their tortious conduct; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual reputational damage; an award against all defendants to compensate for all presumed actual damages resulting from mental anguish and emotional distress; an award against all defendants of punitive damages; attorney’s fees and costs.
SaharaReporters had, nonetheless, in August 2020 also reported that Olukoya was considering taking another legal action against the online news publication to stop it from reporting about the United Kingdom Charity Commission scandal involving his church.
Olukoya, in a letter written by his lawyer, Ime Nya Asanga, had alleged that SaharaReporters levelled false allegations against him and the MFM board of trustees.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how the UK Charity Commission appointed an interim manager for the MFM in August 2019.
The commission, in a statement, said the interim manager assumes these duties at the exclusion of the charity’s trustees, stating that the trustees retain control over matters relating to religious activities.
The UK charity regulator claimed it had serious concerns over MFM Chair of Trustees, Dr Daniel Olukoya, and his handling of serious incidents.
It accused Olukoya of illegally meeting a former employee of the charity alleged to have stolen between £150,000 and £190,000 of the charity’s funds in Nigeria, then entered into an agreement with the individual without consulting with other trustees.
Olukoya had in the past filed three libel suits against the Publisher of SaharaReporters, Omoyele Sowore, in Nigeria and another one before the District Court of Maryland, United States.
While all the cases in Nigeria had been dismissed, the one in the US was decided only on June 24, 2021.
While ruling on the suit, the US District Court magistrate said Olukoya should pay $7,320 within 30 days as part of sanctions in the suit he entered against Sowore while alleging defamatory publications.
The magistrate said, “Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya brought this lawsuit against the Defendants to recover for purported defamatory statements that the Defendants made about him and his church in an article published on September 27, 2017.2 See ECF No. 73. During discovery, the Defendants sought information related to the U.K. Charity Commission’s investigation of Olukoya’s church. ECF No. 72 at 1-2. When Olukoya failed to provide the requested discovery, the Defendants filed a motion to compel (ECF No. 55). Among the discovery requests at issue was a request for “[a]ll documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” ECF No. 55-3 at 13.
“In response to the motion to compel, Olukoya stated that he had responded to the discovery requests and that the motion to compel was therefore moot. ECF No. 59. Thereafter, the court held a telephone conference to address a related dispute (whether Olukoya would be required to produce discovery responses directed to a party whose claims had been dismissed), but otherwise treated the Defendants’ motion to compel as moot.
“Unfortunately, Olukoya’s response to the motion to compel contained a serious misrepresentation; he had not produced any “documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission related to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International.” See ECF No. 68 at 5 (noting that Olukoya produced no documents responsive to this request). And at 1 Judge Chuang referred this case to me for all discovery and related scheduling matters. ECF No. 57. 2 Other claims that Olukoya brought against the Defendants have been dismissed. ECF No. 26. Olukoya’s deposition, which was held on April 23, 2021, Olukoya testified that there were “tons and tons of documents in [his] possession” that relate to the inquiry by the U.K. Charity Commission. ECF No. 72-8 at 34.”
The magistrate added that the defendants, therefore, sought sanctions against Olukoya for his failure to produce the requested documents relating to proceedings before the U.K. Charity Commission.
The magistrate said, “The conclusion is that; for the reasons set forth above, the Defendants’ Motion for Sanctions will be granted in part and denied in part. The court will enter the following sanctions against the Defendants: Olukoya is prohibited from (1) making any use of any documents related to the U.K. Charity Commission that he produced to the Defendants after January 2, 2021; and from (2) challenging the admissibility of these documents on any basis other than Fed. R. Evid. 401 and 403.
“Olukoya will also be required to pay the Defendants’ reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in connection with his discovery failures, which total $7,320.00, within 30 days of the date of this Order. Payment should be made directly to the Defendants’ attorneys. These sanctions are entered against Olukoya pursuant to Rules 37(c) and 26(g).”
Meanwhile, in the response of Olukoya’s legal team to the court, it already admitted that the said online publications did not lead to any harm for the church.
The court papers obtained by SaharaReporters said, “Defendant Omoyele Sowore’s Request for Admissions. Responses 1. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya did not suffer any economic harm due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 2. Admit that no contract between Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya and any individual, corporation, or entity was terminated due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 3. Admit that no member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church resigned from the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 4. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya cannot identify a single individual who decided not to become a member of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles church due to the publication of the Challenged Statements. RESPONSE: Plaintiff denies this request. 5. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Mountain of Fire and Miracles. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.
“6. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries employs a public relations professional or media aide who is responsible for public relations for Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 7. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a website that provides information about its ministry to the public.
“RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 8. Admit that Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries maintains a YouTube page that airs Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s sermons. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 9. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya’s Facebook page identifies him as a public figure. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request. 10. Admit that Plaintiff Daniel Olukoya is a public figure for purposes of this defamation action. RESPONSE: Plaintiff admits this request.”
The lawyers representing Sowore in the suit stated that they would donate the $7,320 sanction fees to be paid by Olukoya to Sowore’s ongoing court cases in Nigeria where the government dragged him to court over trumped-up charges.
“Based on Olukoya’s gamesmanship in failing to provide relevant discovery materials (particularly has failed to timely produce any documents relating to the UK Charity Commission investigation), we filed a motion asking magistrate judge Sullivan to impose discovery sanctions on Olukoya. We’re delighted to report that at the end of last week, magistrate Sullivan issued the attached decision finding that Olukoya misled the court and awarding $7,320 in attorneys’ fees against Olukoya personally.
“Olukoya is required to pay us the $7,320 in attorneys’ fees within 30 days. And Lisa and I would like to donate the $7,320 to SaharaReporters to help defray Sowore’s legal defence in Nigeria.
“That’s where things currently stand. In the next few weeks, we’ll be conducting additional limited depositions of Olukoya and Grace Ugeh, which the magistrate has permitted so that we can question each of them about documents they improperly failed to produce until after they were deposed,” one of the lawyers stated.
Father-in-Law Of Pastor Enenche Arraigned For Alleged N24.6Million Fraud In Benue Varsity Teaching Hospital The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The Chairman of Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Professor John Ibu, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for alleged N24.6 million fraud, has been identified as the father of Pastor Becky Enenche, wife of Dr Paul Enenche, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.
Checks by SaharaReporters revealed that Becky, who was formerly known as Rebecca Inyangbe Ibu before marriage, was born into the family of Ibu on October 23, 1970.
On June 28, the EFCC announced that its Makurdi Zonal Office arraigned Becky’s father alongside one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman and his company, ADB Motors Venters Nigeria Limited before Justice Abdu Dogo of the Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, Benue State.
They were arraigned on charges of conspiracy and obtaining N24, 650,000 (Twenty-Four Million, Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) by false pretences.
The EFCC alleged that the duo obtained the said sum from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital under the guise of purchasing a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model which was never bought.
The anti-corruption agency noted that the offence is contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, you Chief Abukenchi Suleiman, being the Managing Director ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd and you, ADB Motors Ventures Nigeria Ltd sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to defraud conspired amongst yourselves and obtained the sum of N24,650,000 (Twenty Four Million Six Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira only) from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Board for the purchase of a Toyota Landcruiser Prado 2018 Model under false pretences that you have the capacity to supply which pretence you knew was false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8(a) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under section 1(3) of the same Act”.
Count two reads: “That you, Professor John Ibu, being the Board Chairman, Benue State University Teaching Hospital sometime in July 2019 within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did use your position to confer an unfair advantage to yourself by collecting a bribe, to the tune of N10, 900,000 (Ten Million Nine Hundred Thousand Naira only), from one Chief Abukenchi Suleiman of ADB Motors Ventures Nig. Ltd, on behalf of Atirogo & Sons Enterprises, paid into Access Bank account Number 0049185884, a company you’re the Managing Director and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 19 of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000 and punishable under the same Act.”
But the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges preferred against them.
Based on their pleas, prosecution counsel, George Chia-Yakua asked for a trial date and that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility.
However, counsel for the Ibu, S. O. Vekuwu, moved a motion for the bail of his client on self-recognizance. He informed the court that his client had been on administrative bail offered by the EFCC.
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