In a significant development that has captured the attention of Nigerian and West African communities worldwide, the United Kingdom’s Charity Commission has frozen the assets of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International (MFM), a globally recognized Pentecostal church with roots in Nigeria. This move, which came after extensive investigations, highlights growing scrutiny on how African-founded faith organizations operate in overseas jurisdictions, especially where strict financial and governance standards are the norm.
The Charity Commission, an independent regulator overseeing charities in England and Wales, released a detailed account on its official website. Their findings concluded that MFM’s trustees had failed in their duty to implement robust financial management across the church’s vast network in the UK. This included the alarming revelation that over 100 bank accounts had been operated by different branches, with little oversight or central reporting—conditions that reportedly exposed donor money to serious risk.
For many Nigerians in the UK, as well as in Ghana and across West Africa, churches like MFM are vital not just for spiritual life, but as cultural and community anchors in the diaspora. Founded by renowned cleric Dr. Daniel Olukoya, MFM’s footprint extends far beyond Nigeria, boasting nearly a hundred branches in Britain alone and attracting tens of thousands of adherents.
However, the experience of MFM is not unique among Nigerian-origin churches operating in the UK. In recent years, SPAC Nation (investigated in December 2024) and Christ Embassy (investigated in November 2019, as per a government report) have faced official queries about the management of their finances and internal governance.
This situation has sparked pressing questions both within religious circles and among policy makers: How can rapidly expanding churches adapt their management and reporting systems to comply with British regulations, which demand rigorous transparency from any registered charity?
For many observers, this case also sheds light on a much broader issue—the need for churches born out of African contexts, which often thrive on decentralized and community-driven structures, to professionalize their operations as they enter more tightly regulated environments like the UK. Regulatory standards in Britain require that all charitable organizations, including religious groups, keep detailed and unified records, report income accurately, and ensure that assets are safeguarded for their charitable purpose.
How the Inquiry Began: Unpacking the MFM Investigation
The Charity Commission opened a formal inquiry into MFM back in March 2018, acting under powers provided by Section 46 of the Charities Act 2011. According to documents released by the Commission, concerns were raised about potential misappropriation of funds, insufficient oversight, and apparent lapses in the church’s internal financial controls.
The investigation revealed that MFM had expanded rapidly, growing from a handful of branches to over 90 across the UK. Yet, the procedures for managing this growth lagged dangerously behind; the organization did not establish comprehensive financial governance systems to match its expanding operations. Instead, branches operated with a high degree of independence, opening separate bank accounts—reportedly over 100 in total—without clear reporting lines or central approval. In many cases, there was no prompt submission of income reports to the central body.
The Commission’s final report notes that these decentralized practices created serious vulnerabilities. In one striking example, property purchases and leases were reportedly made at the branch level without authorization from the trustees. Furthermore, some properties were used by the church without the legally required planning permissions, exposing the organization to costly legal fees and settlements.
Problems also extended to employment practices; poorly managed contracts led to disputes and forced the charity to pay out settlements. The absence of a unified financial system left donor funds exposed to risk, undermining the trust placed in the organization by its supporters both in Nigeria and abroad.
What Does This Mean for Nigerian Churches Abroad?
As MFM’s situation demonstrates, the Charity Commission is increasingly vigilant about financial hygiene in faith-based organizations—especially those serving large and dynamic diaspora communities from West Africa. Transparency and accountability are no longer optional for churches registered as charities in the UK, and failing to meet these standards risks severe regulatory action, including asset freezes.
The intervention didn’t end with the inquiry. On 1 August 2019, the Commission appointed an interim manager to work alongside the MFM trustees. This official was tasked with implementing tighter financial controls to safeguard assets and restore order. The interim management arrangement reportedly remained in place until September 2024, after which the manager was discharged, acknowledging “progress achieved” in strengthening the charity’s operations.
After wrapping up its investigation, the regulator took further action by freezing MFM’s assets. According to Amy Spiller, Head of Investigations at the Charity Commission, “The rapid growth of a charity comes with correspondingly larger potential risks, as our inquiry clearly shows. In this case, the trustees’ fundamental failure to maintain financial controls meant donor funds were at serious risk across their entire network.” She further emphasized that regulatory intervention has since put the trustees in a better position to ensure proper stewardship over church finances.
Commission’s Mandate and Lessons for Faith Institutions
On concluding its review, the Charity Commission issued a regulatory action plan mandating MFM to overhaul its governance systems and improve financial transparency. Recent statements from the Commission confirm that the church’s trustees have complied with these requirements, and the organization is now expected to operate under much stricter oversight in the future.
As at the time of reporting, neither Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries International nor its founder, Dr. Daniel Olukoya, had released a public response addressing the Charity Commission’s findings or the asset freeze.
For community leaders and analysts in Nigeria and the wider African region, the lessons are profound. According to Lagos-based governance expert Adebola Ibrahim, “Many African churches and community organizations have thrived on trust and informality at home, but operating in the West comes with a different set of expectations.” He noted that strong internal controls, documented procedures, and transparent reporting are essential if these groups want to maintain both their reputations and their access to charitable status abroad.
Historically, similar regulatory scrutiny has touched other African faith organizations in the UK and across Europe. This highlights a clear expectation: religious influence and rapid growth must be paired with professional management and accountability.
Broader Implications for Nigerians in the Diaspora
The MFM case is more than a regulatory story—it also touches on issues of identity, trust, and reputation for Nigerian and African diaspora communities. For many, churches are more than just places of worship; they are support networks, cultural centers, and sources of pride. Regulatory setbacks abroad can have ripple effects on how diaspora communities are perceived, emphasizing the need for compliance and best practices.
Legal experts warn that the consequences for non-compliance can be severe, ranging from loss of charitable status to asset seizures and reputational damage. Yet, this also presents an opportunity for faith-based organizations to adopt world-class practices and reassure donors and adherents alike.
In the words of Chinedu Okeke, a Nigerian pastor based in Manchester, “Our churches need to show we can be both spiritually and ethically strong. That means taking governance as seriously as we take our mission.”
As the conversation continues, many in Nigeria and across West Africa are watching to see how MFM and similar organizations adapt, and whether this case will prompt a wider reckoning on financial management among African-rooted faith groups operating globally.
What steps do you think African churches in the diaspora should take to ensure transparency and avoid regulatory pitfalls? Share your perspectives in the comments and keep following us for the latest updates on faith, governance, and diaspora stories.
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