When Nigerian blogger Adewale Ajimisogbe was convicted for cyberbullying MFM’s founder, the reactions came in waves - fear, satisfaction, confusion. For some, it’s justice served. For others, it’s a warning. Either way, the digital space in Nigeria may have just shifted.
KEY POINTS:
- Adewale Ajimisogbe was convicted by a Federal High Court in Lagos for cyberbullying and defaming Dr. Daniel Olukoya, head of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries.
- He published claims alleging criminal acts by Olukoya. As part of a plea bargain, he pled guilty, paid a fine, and issued a formal apology and retraction.
- Many members of MFM see the outcome as vindication—some even referencing the biblical phrase, “Touch not my anointed.”
- The case has stirred anxiety among bloggers and content creators, who are growing concerned that digital expression can carry real-world legal consequences, especially when it targets power.
- It’s not the first time Nigeria has seen the law used to push back against online commentary, but the spiritual element in this case has made the response feel deeply personal for many.
We’re not here to say who’s right. But the emotional divide is real — and worth sitting with. Because in a country where faith, speech, and status are tightly interwoven, the space between influence and offence is narrowing fast.
This story leaves us with questions: Can Nigeria protect against defamation without silencing necessary critique? Are online voices being chilled—or simply called to greater responsibility? And how do we create a digital culture that leaves room for truth, power, and people?
