Magu probe: FCMB apologises to Prophet Omale over N573m payment error

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has tendered a public apology to Emmanuel Omale, general overseer of Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International, over a N573 million payment error.

Adam Nuru, FCMB managing director, had told the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA) that the bank made an error of posting N573 million into the church’s account.

However, the bank clarified that there was a system error that affected Omale’s account but no transfer was made.

Ibrahim Magu, suspended acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is currently being investigated by the committee headed by Ayo Salami, former president of the appeal court, for allegedly mismanaging loot recovered by the anti-graft agency.

The committee had accused Magu of using Omale to launder funds abroad.

The former acting chairman of EFCC had been accused of purchasing a property in Dubai using Omale’s name — an allegation the pastor denied.

Omale, through Gordy Uche, had sued the commercial bank and demanded N5 billion in exemplary, aggravated, special and general damages, but the bank resorted to public apology.

In a letter dated September 11, and titled “Re: Bank Negligence Occasioning Unique Investigation and Defamation to our Client” with copies of the public apology attached, the bank explained that the sum of N573 million was mistakenly paid into Omale’s account and also denied that the error was intentionally done to tarnish the image of the cleric.

The apology was published in three national newspapers: The Guardian, Daily Trust, and BusinessDay.

Adewale Fati and Olugbenga Elemide, the bank’s legal counsel who signed the letter, stated that the bank regrets the error.

“Please be informed that in line with the undertaking contained in our aforementioned letter, we have published in three national newspapers (The Guardian newspaper, Daily Trust newspaper and BusinessDay newspaper) on September 11, 2020. Please find attached herewith copies of our public apology to Divine Hand of God Ministries,” the letter reads.

“It is our hope that the public apology has assuaged the grievances of your client, having seen that the error was indeed not borne out of any malice towards them.

“Kindly extend our good wishes to your client, whilst assuring you of our warm professional regards.”