Court Adjourns Emefiele’s Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Trial, Fixes July 9 for Ruling on Statements
Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has adjourned proceedings in the alleged $4.5 billion fraud case involving former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, until July 9, 2026, for a ruling on the admissibility of extra-judicial statements allegedly made by Emefiele.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged receipt of gratification and corrupt demands while serving as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Omoile is facing a separate three-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At Friday’s proceedings, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), challenged the admissibility of the statements sought to be tendered by the prosecution, arguing that they were not made voluntarily.
According to the defence, the statements were allegedly obtained through oppression, physical and mental torture during Emefiele’s detention by the Department of State Services (DSS), where he was reportedly held for more than 157 days.
Ojo cited provisions of the Anti-Torture Act, 2017, and the Evidence Act, contending that the absence of video recordings of the interrogations undermined the credibility of the statements.
“The issue before the court is whether the statements credited to the first defendant were made voluntarily,” he argued, urging the court to reject the statements and resolve any doubts in favour of the defendant.
Responding, Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), called the prosecution’s eighth witness, EFCC investigator Alvan Gurumnaan.
The witness told the court that Emefiele was invited for questioning and that all interviews were conducted in the presence of his legal representative.
He disclosed that the prosecution had voluntarily withdrawn a statement dated October 26, 2023, but sought to tender statements made on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023.
“If the defence does not want that statement, we are prepared to withdraw it. We are withdrawing it not because it was obtained through torture or oppression,” the witness told the court.
Oyedepo argued that there was no basis for a trial-within-trial, maintaining that the statements in question did not amount to confessions.
“There is nothing in the defendant’s statements that can be construed as an admission of the facts in issue,” he submitted, urging the court to dismiss the defence’s objections and allow the trial to proceed.
Earlier, counsel to the second defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), informed the court of a pending application seeking leave to appeal an earlier ruling. The prosecution raised no objection, and Justice Oshodi granted the request.
“I hereby grant the second defendant leave to appeal the ruling of the court,” the judge ruled.
Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the matter until July 9, 2026, for a decision on the admissibility of the disputed statements.
The court also scheduled October 6, 7 and 8, as well as November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of the substantive trial.
Court Adjourns Emefiele’s Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Trial, Fixes July 9 for Ruling on Statements