Fresh questions are being raised over the long-running allegations made by former Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) member, Funke Ashekun, against the church’s General Overseer, Dr. D.K. Olukoya, as critics increasingly link her claims to an alleged bid to secure asylum in the United States.
For more than five years, Ashekun has used various online platforms to narrate what she describes as experiences of persecution, intimidation and victimisation during her time in the church. Through podcasts, social media broadcasts and public commentaries, she has consistently levelled accusations against the ministry and its leadership.
However, critics contend that the claims were carefully constructed to support an asylum narrative rather than reflect genuine religious persecution. They argue that despite years of public accusations, Ashekun has not produced verifiable evidence to substantiate many of the allegations she has made against Dr. Olukoya and MFM.
The controversy has been further fuelled by reports of an alleged leaked audio recording in which Ashekun was purportedly heard discussing efforts to engage former church members to speak against the ministry. While the recording has generated intense debate online, its authenticity and full context remain subjects of public scrutiny.
Supporters of Dr. Olukoya maintain that Ashekun’s allegations are difficult to reconcile with the relationship she reportedly enjoyed with the church leadership during her years as a member. They claim that she and her family benefited from various forms of support, including accommodation, financial assistance, scholarships for her children and other welfare interventions.
The renewed attention has also revived discussions about Ashekun’s relocation to the United States, with some observers alleging that claims of religious persecution may have featured prominently in efforts to obtain immigration protection abroad.
Many church members have expressed surprise at the persistence of the allegations, arguing that no publicly available records have emerged showing formal complaints, police reports, documented threats or other independent evidence that would support claims of sustained persecution.
As the controversy continues to generate reactions within religious and social circles, the dispute has become one of the most widely discussed cases involving a former church member and a prominent Nigerian Pentecostal leader.
At the time of this report, Ashekun had not publicly responded to the latest allegations, while discussions surrounding the matter continue across social media and among members of the Christian community.
