An officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told the special offences court in Ikeja, Lagos, that Henry Omoile, the co-defendant of former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele, gave his statements willingly.
Gatekeepers News reports that the officer, Gurumnaan, appeared in court on Tuesday for the trial-within-trial ordered to determine whether Omoile’s statements were made under pressure.
Emefiele is on trial for a 19-count charge linked to gratification and corrupt demands during his time as CBN Governor, while Omoile faces three counts relating to unlawful acceptance of gifts as a public officer.
A prosecution witness had earlier informed the court that he collected dollar cash from certain individuals for Emefiele and delivered it to Omoile on the former Governor’s instructions.
On October 9, EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo tried to tender Omoile’s extrajudicial statements as evidence, but Omoile’s lawyer, Kotoye Adeyinka, argued that the statements were not given voluntarily. This claim led Justice Ramon Oshodi to order a trial-within-trial.
When hearing resumed on Tuesday, Gurumnaan explained that Omoile came to the EFCC Lagos office on February 26, 2024, with his lawyer, E. N. Offiong, and made four statements. Three were dated February 26 and one was dated February 27.
He insisted that no one pressured or intimidated Omoile while the statements were being taken. He said, “The second defendant did not make any statement under duress. Our officers do not force statements through violence or intimidation.”
He also noted that Omoile signed the documents and even wrote, “I am making this statement in the presence of my lawyer, Offiong.”
Gurumnaan added that the lawyer was present on both days and provided the visitors’ register to support his claim, since one of the statements did not clearly mention the lawyer’s presence.
Under cross-examination, he confirmed that the EFCC did not record the session on video, even though it is standard procedure, explaining that certain operational issues sometimes prevent recordings.
The court adjourned the matter to Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
