An Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness yesterday told the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, that the second defendant, Henry Omoile, voluntarily made his statements in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Gatekeepers News reports that Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands, while Omoile faces a three-count charge relating to unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Testifying in a trial-within-trial, prosecution witness Alvan Gurumnaan said EFCC operatives do not use intimidation or violence to obtain statements.
“The second defendant did not make any statement under duress. Our officers do not force statements through violence,”
Gurumnaan told the court.
He confirmed that the EFCC did not video-record Omoile’s statement but insisted that it was not mandatory for the anti-graft agency to do so. According to him, the burden lies on the defendant to prove that a statement was made under duress.
The issue of voluntariness arose at the last proceedings on October 9, 2025, when prosecuting counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) sought to tender Omoile’s extra-judicial statements as evidence. Defence counsel Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN) objected, arguing that the statements were not voluntarily made.
Following the objection, Justice Oshodi ordered a trial-within-trial to determine whether the statements were admissible.
