The Court of Appeal has confirmed that First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has complied with the directive for it to deposit the N540m awarded as damages to the general overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry, Emmanuel Omale, into an interest-yielding account held by the chief registrar of the court.
The appellate court announced the payment in a letter dated February 16 addressed to Omale’s lawyer, Goddy Uche (SAN).
The letter signed by Sherifatu Abdulrazaq-Tayibu read, “We received your letter dated the 14th February 2024 seeking confirmation from this court as to whether the appellants in this matter have complied with the order of this honourable court.
“I have been directed by the Deputy Chief Registrar to inform you and indeed confirm that the appellants have complied with the order of this honourable court, directing that the sum of N540,500,000.00 only be paid into an interest-yielding account.”
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the FCT, on October 4, 2022, ruled that the bank negligently violated its duty of care towards the claimants – Omale, his wife, and their church – by falsely asserting that the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, deposited N573 million into the church’s account.
Court orders FCMB to pay Magu’s pastor Omale, wife N540.5m over false claim
Magu: N573m mistakenly transferred to Prophet Omale – FCMB
It was alleged that the said money was used to buy a property in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Mr Magu was at the time being investigated for alleged money laundering.
The judge further noted that the bank claimed that the purported N573m was wrongly reflected as credit entry in the church’s account.
However, in a February 1, 2024 ruling, the appellate court rejected FCMB’s request for a stay of execution of the judgment pending the determination of its appeal.
Instead, a three-member panel presided over by Justice Muhammed Shuaibu granted a conditional stay of the execution of the judgment by ordering the bank to pay the judgment sum of N540million.
