USA property tussle
Femi Oyewale, a journalist and publisher of Sahara Weekly, in this piece made available to OpenLife Nigeria, chronicles the legal journey that vindicated Mountain of Fire Ministry, MFM, about a property in the United States of America
THEY PLANNED TO STEAL, BUT GOD WAS VERY MUCH AWAKE
A few years back it was all over the news and social media that one of MFM Maryland U.S.A church properties was in court over dispute of ownership, after the then serving pastor CHANGED THE NAME OF THE CHURCH OVERNIGHT and converted the church bank accounts to the name of his own MINISTRY, but down the line, MFM WON THE CASE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COURT PROCEEDINGS
THE LAST AND LOST BATTLE
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.
THE MOVE AND THE COURT JUDGEMENT
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 a judgment 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 GLITCH OF MEETING UP
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 judgment totaling over $150,000.00 pending
their appeal.
THE APPEAL THEY LOST
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.
AND THEY PAID UP
With all appeals having now been exhausted, Mountain of Fire commenced collection
actions. With no other options available, Adetunji issued two personal checks totaling
more than $200,000.00 to satisfy the judgment, attorney’s fees, and accrued interest.
This just goes to tell that time will always give the truth a pathway to appear
Happy new year
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