(DDM) — The Charity Commission for England and Wales has frozen more than 100 bank accounts linked to Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM International) over serious financial misconduct and governance failures.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the regulator cited “deep-rooted governance failures,” weak financial controls, and misuse of church funds across MFM’s UK operations, which expanded from a handful of branches to over 90 locations without proper oversight or centralized management.
The Commission report revealed that individual branches operated independently, opening bank accounts, purchasing properties, taking loans, and making significant financial decisions without trustee approval, creating substantial risks to charitable assets and exposing the organization to potential legal liabilities.
Investigators found that Dr. Daniel Olukoya, MFM’s General Overseer, exercised excessive control under the charity’s 2004 constitution, enabling him to appoint and remove trustees at will.
This power imbalance undermined independent governance and accountability, leaving trustees largely unable to oversee financial and operational decisions effectively.
Some trustees were simultaneously paid employees of the church, further breaching charity regulations and creating conflicts of interest.
The Commission noted that these practices persisted until the charity amended its constitution in July 2024, restricting the General Overseer’s influence.
The inquiry traced MFM’s financial mismanagement to its rapid growth, which outpaced governance improvements.
Between 2018 and 2021, more than 100 branch accounts were opened without consent from central trustees.
In one case, funds were discovered idle in a branch account without clear purpose, prompting a freezing order in February 2022.
To stabilize operations, the Commission appointed Dr. Adam Stephens of Evelyn Partners LLP as Interim Manager in 2019.
Resistance from trustees led to a reappointment in 2021, with the Interim Manager operating for over five years at a cost exceeding £1 million plus VAT.
While the First-Tier Tribunal (Charity) recognized misconduct, it required the Interim Manager to work alongside trustees rather than excluding them entirely.
MFM also repeatedly failed to submit annual accounts and reports on time, with filings for 2015, 2016, and 2017 each delayed by more than 150 days, demonstrating systemic administrative lapses.
The charity’s 2023 accounts indicated an income of £2.71 million and expenditure of £2.19 million, with roughly 50 active branches managed by local pastors across the UK.
The Commission emphasized that the lack of centralized financial oversight had endangered charitable funds and undermined donor confidence.
The Commission’s report warned that trustees must ensure that charity funds are used exclusively for charitable purposes, and failure to maintain transparency could constitute criminal conduct.
It stressed that the freeze and appointment of an Interim Manager were crucial to prevent further loss, enforce accountability, and restore proper governance.
The regulator noted that MFM’s UK issues had broader implications for faith-based organizations, serving as a cautionary tale on the risks of unchecked growth and the importance of governance systems keeping pace with expansion.
Officials confirmed that corrective measures are ongoing, including centralized oversight of all branch accounts, financial audits, mandatory training for trustees, and improved reporting mechanisms to ensure compliance with charity laws.
The Commission highlighted that the intervention also aimed to protect donors’ contributions, reinforce public trust, and ensure that charitable operations comply with both UK law and internationally accepted governance standards.
The action against MFM International signals heightened regulatory scrutiny for religious organizations and underscores the Commission’s commitment to upholding transparency, integrity, and accountability in all charitable operations across the UK.
