The High Court in Lilongwe has quashed the extradition of prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, delivering a stinging rebuke to the legal framework that sought to return them to South Africa.

In a ruling on Friday, Presiding Judge Mzonde Mvula overturned the prior court order, asserting that the evidence presented for extradition was not only procedurally flawed but failed to address what the court deemed "grave and credible threats" to the couple's well-being. The judge found that the initial magistrate’s decision was based on insufficient grounds, rendering the extradition unlawful.

A Victory Framed by Faith

The Bushiris, who lead the multinational Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, are accused in South Africa of orchestrating a massive R102 million fraud and money laundering operation linked to a fake investment scheme.

They left Pretoria in 2020 after being released on bail, an act South African prosecutors label as flight from justice, but which their supporters call a return to their homeland for safety.

Following the verdict, an elated Prophet Bushiri addressed his congregation and followers online.

"Man has failed, but God has prevailed," he proclaimed. "What was meant to bind us has been broken. Join us tonight not for prayer, but for a victory celebration!"

His legal team echoed the sentiment, calling the judgment a "triumph of justice over political pressure."

Safety Over Procedure

The core of the High Court's decision rested on two pillars: the right to life and the right to a fair hearing. Justice Mvula’s ruling noted that the lower court ignored the defense's submissions about alleged coercion and intimidation by South African law enforcement, including claims of financial extortion.

Furthermore, the judge emphasized a profound legal principle, stating that the court’s duty to protect life supersedes the logistical need to make someone available for trial.

"A courtroom cannot remedy a grave injury or worse," the judgment implied, criticizing the one-sided nature of the earlier hearings where the Bushiris were not permitted to fully present their case for refuge.