MFM Secures Another Victory In American Court

AN American Court has awarded punitive damages against breakaway pastors of the Bowie branch of Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) in Maryland, United States, for breach of trust and illegally hijacking the branch and its assets in 2017.

The judgment followed an action filed in 2018 before the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in Maryland, USA, with suit number CAL16-26532 by the MFM International, seeking damages against former resident pastor and 11 other members for converting the

church property to their personal use.

The court, in its ruling, ordered the pastor and his codefendants to pay the sum of $146,916.54 to MFM Ministries as damages for their unlawful action.

This latest judgment is sequel to an earlier ruling in 2018, in which the court upheld the several claims of plaintiff, dismissed the defendants’ counter-claims and ordered the breakaway pastors to promptly surrender to MFM, the church property, which they had hijacked and illegally converted to themselves.

Although the defendants had complied substantially with the earlier ruling, they, nonetheless, retained the proceeds of their breach of trust, that is, the funds generated during the period of their insurgency, which became the subject of the latest course of action instituted by MFM.

In granting MFM”S full prayers, the Court asked the plaintiffs to file a motion for the reimbursement of all legal costs incurred by MFM to be paid by the defendants. In 2017, the pastor connived with 11 other members to fraudulently rename the MFM, Bowie branch as Christ the Truth Ministries, and proceeded to convert the property and monies entrusted to his care to the new ministry, registered and owned by him, his family and friends.

Counsel to MFM International said judgment of this nature would go a long way to deter renegade pastors and ministers, who see the church as an avenue for profiteering, rather than evangelism, which is the original purpose of church propagation.

THE European Union (EU) has said it is collaborating with the Federal Government to end insecurity, corruption and open defecation in rural communities.

Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Amb. Ketil Karlsen, disclosed this, yesterday, during the commissioning of solar-powered borehole project and school sanitation facility, executed in partnership with United Nation Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) at Lo-gwom Kwi community in Riyom Local Council of Plateau State.

"We know there are challenges in the country. We know there are issues around conflicts, economy,

and how to reduce corruption, among others. These are Federal Government’s priorities. That is, exactly where we are helping out. We need to secure clean water, better health and, of course, we need to stop open defecation. Now that Plateau State Government has passed Water Law, we will commence action. That is European Union’s commitment," Karlsen said.

UNICEF representative in Nigeria, Mr. Peter Hawkins, urged pupils and community members to use the latrine and water provided to wash their hands regularly, to avoid outbreak of diseases in the community.

Chairman of Riyom Local Council, Emmanuel Jugul promised to set up a task force that would ensure every household has a latrine to end open defecation.