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The Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed the judgment of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, directing First City Monument Bank (FCMB) to pay N540 million in damages for defamation against Prophet Emmanuel Omale and his wife, Deborah.
In a ruling on February 1, the appellate court rejected FCMB’s request for a stay of execution of the judgment. Instead, it granted a conditional stay, ordering the bank to deposit the awarded sum into an interest-yielding account within 48 hours, held in the name of the court’s chief registrar.
The judgment, originally issued on October 4, 2022, by Justice Yusuf Halilu, found FCMB guilty of recklessly breaching its duty of care to Omale, his wife, and the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministry. The court agreed that the bank made a false claim that former EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, paid N573 million to the church’s account.
Justice Halilu awarded N200 million as aggravated damages, N140,500,000 as specific damages, and N200 million as general damages, stating that FCMB’s admitted error caused incalculable damage to the claimants’ reputation.
The Court of Appeal’s conditional stay allows for further hearing, with the date to be communicated by the court’s registry. The respondents, Omale, his wife, and the church, alternatively conceded to the conditional stay in their counter affidavit, despite initially seeking the dismissal of FCMB’s motion.
This development highlights the legal consequences faced by FCMB in the aftermath of the defamation suit, marking a significant chapter in the ongoing dispute.
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