The Federal High Court in Lagos has accepted a plea bargain from blogger Adewale Ajimisogbe, who was arraigned for defaming Dr. Daniel Olukoya, General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM).

Ajimisogbe and Ayotunde Richards, a former member of MFM, were arraigned in 2024 by the Nigeria Police Force on charges including conspiracy, cyberbullying, cyberstalking, and defamation. While both defendants faced three joint charges, Ajimisogbe was also individually charged with nine additional counts of libel.

According to the police prosecutor, Ajimisogbe published a defamatory article targeting Olukoya on his blog. He later pleaded guilty and entered into a plea bargain agreement with the prosecution.

Under the terms of the plea deal, Ajimisogbe agreed to retract the defamatory publication, issue a public apology to Olukoya, and pay a fine of ₦50,000 to the state.

His counsel, Ife Ajayi, urged the court to accept the plea arrangement, noting that Ajimisogbe was a first-time offender who had shown genuine remorse and described Olukoya as a father figure. Ajayi assured the court that his client would not repeat such actions.

The plea was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Ademola Adewale, the lawyer for the second defendant, or the legal representative of the nominal complainant.

Delivering his ruling, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa approved the agreement, stating:

After careful consideration of the application and submissions from counsel, the plea bargain agreement is hereby granted. The first defendant is to forfeit ₦50,000 to the state.

The case was adjourned to June 3, 2025, for the continuation of the trial of the second defendant.