An FCT High Court has awarded the sum of N100 million against the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for publishing libelous news story againts Prophet Emmanuel Omale of the Divine Hand of God Prophetic Ministries International Abuja.
Delivering judgment Tuesday, Yusuf Halilu awarded the sum of N50 million in general damages to the claimant and another N50 million as aggravated damages totaling N100 million.
Justice Halilu also gave an order compelling NAN to publish a public apology to Prophet Omale in three national newspapers with online visibility.
He further restrained the news agency from making such libelous publication against the claimant.
Prophet Omale had on July 27, 2020 through his counsel Goddy Uche (SAN), instituted an action against NAN seeking N1 billion as aggravated and general damages.
The organisation had on July 11, 2020 alleged that Prophet Omale laundered the sum of N500 million to buy a property in Dubai for former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.
The court had also on October 4 awarded the sum of N540 million in damages against a commercial bank over the generation of “suspicious” credit inflow against the prophet, which caused the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to summon him.
