Falana, cleric mentioned as Presidential panel reportedly links Magu to ‘laundering of re-looted funds’

Findings by the presidential probe panel investigating the suspended acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, for alleged financial malfeasance have reportedly
revealed how he allegedly used a cleric to launder funds abroad.

In the report, a copy of which was made available to journalists on Saturday in Abuja, the Justice Ayo Salami-led panel said one Pastor Emmanuel Omale of Hand of God Prophetic Ministry was used by Magu in laundering the funds.

Omale’s name, according to the report, was uncovered through an investigative report on EFCC’s activities by the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and mentioned in the final report of the Presidential Committee on Audit of Recovered Assets (PCARA).

It said the unknown cleric was alleged to have bought a landed property worth N573 million in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Magu’s behalf.

The report said:

“Another individual who is helping in laundering funds for the acting chairman and who has been referred to in several petitions is one Pastor Emmanuel Omale (Hand of God Prophetic Ministry).

“He is reported to have travelled to Dubai with Mr. Magu and his name was used in purchasing property in Dubai for Mr. Magu.

“As an unknown pastor, the NFIU’s report showed huge movement of funds ranging from N573,228,040.41.”

The report disclosed that the panel had intensified efforts to expose the real identity of the cleric with a view to arraigning him for prosecution, if found culpable.

On the Diezani Alison-Madueke case, the PCARA report accused the suspended anti-graft czar of failure to cooperate with authorities in the United Kingdom to facilitate effective prosecution of the case.

“In the Diezani Alison- Madueke case, the acting chairman is failing to further cooperate with the UK NCA to enable them charge the former minister to court in the UK.

READ ALSO: Magu’s probe shows there are no sacred cows —Presidency

“The acting chairman despite his knowledge that Mrs. Alison-Madueke will not be extradited to Nigeria until after her trial in the UK, has consistently been accusing the UK government on the pages of print and electronic media of not wanting to extradite her to Nigeria,’’ the report maintained.

Magu was also accused of deliberately refusing to provide documentary evidence that would make the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation to commence the extradition process of Mrs. Alison-Madueke who fled the country after the 2015 presidential election.

“This has strained the EFCC relationship with Europe most strategic partner,” it added.

PCARA also revealed how the investigative reports on EFCC’s activities by Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) exposed acts of corruption and money laundering against some EFCC officials, including Magu.

“The NFIU reports established that the acting chairman has been using different sources to siphon money from the EFCC, and in some cases collecting bribes from suspects.

“The report has shown that a particular Bureau de Change, owned by Ahmed Ibrahim Shanono linked to the acting chairman based in Kaduna has more than 158 accounts and has been receiving huge sums of funds.

“The link to Magu was also established by the payment of N28 million to Falana who is a close associate and ally of the acting chairman,’’ the report concluded.

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