Former Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) member, Funke Ashekun, has been accused of fabricating claims of religious persecution against the General Overseer of the church, Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, in order to get asylum for her family in the United States.
She was alleged to have over five years, used her social media platforms to portray herself and her family as victims of intimidation, oppression and persecution allegedly tied to their former relationship with the church.
According to the viral accusations, she allegedly spinned emotional narratives to denigrate Dr. Olukoya and the leadership of MFM to boost her asylum request from United States immigration authorities.
Critics maintained that she failed to provide verifiable evidence to support allegations of physical threats or religious persecution.
She was alleged to have shunned official complaints or documented incidents to strengthen her so-called claim of persecution.
The controversy gained traction online following reports of a leaked audio recording allegedly linked to Ashekun, in which she was accused of recruiting former church members to make damaging claims against the MFM founder.
Critics referred to Ashekun’s recent setback, following which a U.S. appeal court allegedly ordered her to pay damages in a defamation-related lawsuit connected to her online activities.
Supporters of the church claimed that Ashekun and her family previously benefited from the goodwill of the ministry and its leadership.
According to them, the Founder of the church had assisted her family over the years through scholarships, accommodation assistance, financial support and other privileges during her time in the church.
Some observers said Ashekun was right to have spoken her ordeal, while others maintain that her claims were wild designed to curry her personal ego.
The embattled former Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), has not officially responded to the fresh viral allegations before press time.
Funke Ashekun, had last year urged United States President Donald Trump to investigate the church’s General Overseer, Dr Daniel Olukoya, accusing him of running the ministry “like a mafia organisation.”
Ashekun, who said she worshipped in MFM for nearly 20 years before leaving, disclosed the allegations in an open letter addressed to Trump and posted online.
According to her, Olukoya maintains total control over members, suppresses dissent, and uses fear and intimidation to retain his authority.
