On Friday, August 21, 2020, SaharaReporters published an article titled: How MFM Pastor D.K Olukoya, Connived with Officials Who Stole Church's Funds In UK.
The said article,
according to SR, was purportedly gotten
from United Kingdom’s charity commission which accused Pastor D.K Olukoya, of illegally meeting a former employee of the
charity alleged to have stolen between £150,000 and £190,000 (allegedly) of Charity’s funds in Nigeria, then
entered into an agreement with the individual without any consultation with
other trustees of the organization.
Here is the complete article:
BY SAHARAREPORTERS, NEW YORK, USA, FRIDAY AUGUST 21, 2020 - The
United Kingdom Charity Commission has revealed why an interim manager was
appointed for the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International in
August 2019.
The commission had in March 2018 opened a statutory inquiry
into a number of concerns at the church, which included the repeated late
filing of financial information and a failure in the administration resulting
in opportunities for significant losses to the charity. The commission in a the statement said the interim manager assumes these duties at the exclusion of the
charity’s trustees, stating that the trustees retain control over matters
relating to religious activities.
Ex-employee of MFM charity steals up to £190,000 in Nigeria
The UK charity regulator claimed it had serious concerns
over MFM Chair of Trustees, Pastor D.K Daniel Olukoya, and his personal
handling of serious incidents. It, therefore, accused the clergyman of illegally
meeting an ex-employee of the charity believed (allegedly) to have misappropriated
(stolen) between £150,000 and £190,000 of Charity’s funds in Nigeria, then
entered into an agreement with the individual without any consultation with
other trustees (of the Charity).
“A previous auditor
of the charity and a former employee of the charity made fraudulent gift aid
claims and retained well in excess of one million pounds of the funds received
from HMRC. To date, the trustees advise the commission that £104,266.66 has
been received from the former employee.
Another employee steals up to
£190,000 MFM charity money
“Another employee of the charity stole between £150,000 and
£190,000 of the charity’s funds. Although the alleged theft was discovered by
the trustees in August 2015, the matter was not reported to the commission
until 13 February 2018. To date, the trustees advise the commission that
between £6,000 and £8,000 has been recovered by the charity and it continues to
have suffered a significant financial loss. The position of Pastor D.K Daniel
Olukoya raises serious concerns about the extent to which the other trustees of
the charity are able to act independently in the best interests of the charity.
“As referred to a point 13 above, the commission has
evidence that Pastor D.K Daniel Olukoya arranged to meet a former employee of
the charity in Nigeria. That former employee is alleged to have stolen £150,000
to £190,000 of charity’s fund. Pastor “D.K Daniel Olukoya then entered into an
agreement with this individual (Without any consultation with the former
trustees) that the stolen money would be repaid in installments.
“To date, only £6000 to £8000 has been repaid despite the
misappropriation having taken place in 2015. pastor D.K Daniel Olukoya’s
approach in this case and the extent to which he fetters the discretion of the
other trustees casts doubt on the trustees capacity to seek restitution of
substantial funds lost to the charity. Pastor D.K Daniel Olukoya’s behaviour in
dealing with serious incidents on his own and without informing the commission
means that the commission does not have confidence in his dual role of General
Overseer and Chair of trustees,” part of the document read.
“The trustees have
not demonstrated a willingness to comply with their statutory duty under s132
(1) of the Charities Act 2011 to submit accurate accounts by the due date or
with their duty to co-operate with the inquiry. For example, at a meeting with
the charity trustees on 22 August 2018, the trustees assured the commission
that the accounts for the financial year ending 21 December 2017 (due 31
October 2018) would be submitted by the due date. Despite being issued with a
number of reminders and providing further assurances to the commission, the
accounts for 2017 were not submitted by the due date.
“An extension, until 31 December 2018, was granted to the
trustees. The trustees again provided assurances that the 31 December 2018
deadline would be met and again failed to meet the deadline. The charity
accountant indicated in January 2019 that the account would be submitted by
mid-February 2019. Yet again, ‘this deadline was missed. The accounts for 2017
were received on 31 March 2019, 151 days late. These facts show a persistent
pattern of non-compliance with legal obligations and suggest that the commission
cannot rely on the accuracy of the accounts submitted to date. These failures
can be considered to amount to mismatch or misconduct.
“The charity’s governing document gives the General Overseer
and Chair of the Trustees, Pastor (Dr.) Daniel K Olukoya, the power to remove and
appoint trustees. In 2018, three trustees resigned and he has exercised this
power by appointing five trustees. However, three of these new trustees are
remunerated and are employees of the charity. The commission understands that Pastor
D.K Daniel Olukoya has used his power of appointment to appoint remunerated
trustees in breach of the provisions of the governing document,” the statement by
United Kingdom Charity Commission added.
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