By Ngozi Ekhator
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), a leading prayer and deliverance church in Nigeria with branches in all continents of the world, has recovered it’s Maryland, USA branch stolen from it by the branch pastor, Lawrence Adetunji, his wife, Ronke, and 11 others, this newspaper has gathered.
Also recovered are other church assets belonging to MFM, including bank accounts earlier converted to personal use by the pastor and his co-conspirators.
The feat is sequel to a long-drawn litigation, which got a head on October 22, 2021 when Olatunji, his wife the 11 others lost their legal action to retain their stolen church and other assets of the church, including the bank accounts.
The Facts...
On October 22, 2021, Lawrence Adetunji his wife Ronke and 11 other former members of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Bowie lost their final appeal in case number CAL616-26532, entitled Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, International, et al. v. Lawrence Adetunji, et al in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County in Maryland, USA.
Lawrence Adetunji was the pastor of the Bowie Branch when he, his wife and the other co-defendants conspired to unlawfully take the branch property, bank accounts and assets in order to create a new church called Christ the Truth Ministries, Inc.
Mountain of Fire commenced legal action to recoup its property and assets.
A judge heard the trial and found in favor of Mountain of Fire against all defendants.
The judge entered judgement requiring Adetunji and the co- defendants to return the real property, bank accounts, assets and awarded Mountain of Fire damages and attorney’s fees.
The church properties located at 5503 & 5506, Church Road in Bowie were returned as was the money remaining in the bank accounts.
The defendants; however, refused to satisfy the remainder of the judgement totaling over $150,000.00 pending their appeal.
Adetunji and the co-defendants appealed to The Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
Their appeal was denied in a unanimous decision. They next petitioned for a Writ of Centiori, seeking to file an appeal with The Maryland Court of Appeals.
The Chief Judge denied their request outright without a hearing.
All appeals having been exhausted, Mountain of Fire commenced collection actions…
With no other options available, Adetunji issued two personal cheques totaling more than $200,000.00 to satisfy the judgement, attorney’s fees, and accrued interest.
