Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has convicted a blogger, Adewale Ajimisogbe, for cyberbullying the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), Dr Daniel Olukoya.

Ajimisogbe pleaded guilty to the charges following a plea bargain agreement with the police. He, along with a former MFM member, Ayotunde Richards, was arraigned before the court on March 20, 2024, on a 12-count charge of conspiracy, cyberbullying, and libel.

The two defendants were jointly charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, to wit, cyberstalking, and defamation, while Ajimisogbe faced an additional nine counts of libel.

The police prosecutor, Nosa Uhumwangho, informed the court that the alleged offences occurred between December 2023 and February 2024. Uhumwangho stated that Ajimisogbe, through a blogging platform called “Postreporters,” published a report titled: “He is a criminal and behind all illegal acts – Ex-MFM Church singer sues founder Daniel Olukoya and others, seeks N15.5 billion in damages for illegal detention and breach of human rights.”

The prosecutor argued that these actions violated Sections 27 and 24(1)(b)(2)(a)(i) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and were punishable under the same law.

Both defendants initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. However, Ajimisogbe later changed his plea after acknowledging the weight of evidence against him.

As part of the plea bargain agreement, Ajimisogbe agreed to issue a public apology, publish a formal retraction, and forfeit N50,000 to the federal government after pleading guilty to all charges.

The defence counsel, Ife Ajayi, urged the court to accept the plea bargain terms, noting that his client was a first-time offender with no previous criminal record.

Ajayi further informed the court that Ajimisogbe had expressed remorse, offered an unreserved apology to the nominal complainant, whom he regarded as a father figure, and pledged not to repeat his actions.

The prosecutor, the counsel for the second defendant, Ademola Adewale, and the lawyer representing the nominal complainant, A. Adegboye, did not oppose the application.

After hearing the submissions, Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled: “After careful consideration of the application and the submissions from counsel, the plea bargain agreement is hereby granted. The first defendant is to forfeit N50,000 to the state.

“That the matter is further adjourned to June 3, 2025, for the trial of the second defendant.”