Ibrahim Magu, a former acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, has been cleared of all charges related to allegations that he was helped in laundering N573 million by Pastor Emmanuel Omale of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry and his wife Deborah.
Following a lawsuit filed by Omale, his wife, and the church with the case number FCT/HC/CV2541/2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu cleared Magu of the charge of money laundering on Tuesday.
It was claimed that a probe by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit during the investigation of Magu by the Justice Isa Salami-led presidential investigation panel revealed that Magu had paid N573 million into the account of Omale’s church, which was then used to purportedly purchase real estate in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Justice Halilu remarked in his decision that the evidence before his court demonstrated that Omale’s bank had acknowledged inaccuracy in its report to the NFIU of transactions in the account of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry.
The judge further concluded that the bank maintained that its recently enhanced reporting system had incorrectly recorded the alleged N573 million as a credit entry in Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry’s account.
Justice Halilu remarked that the bank had acknowledged the mistake, which had caused Pastor Omale, his wife, and their church irreparable harm both domestically and abroad.
