Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Trial Against  Emefiele Continues Tomorrow

A defence witness, today Thursday told the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, that he was not allowed to participate in witnessing and recording the statement of his client Henry Omolie, but walked out by EFCC official, during interrogation.

Omolie is standing trial alongside Godwin EMEFIELE.

The Witness, Mr. Nnamdi Ofia, lawyer to Henry Omolie, the 2nd defendant in the on-going criminal trial of alleged $4.5bn fraud slammed against former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was giving evidence in the trial within trial to determine the veracity of Omolie’s statement.

According to the Witness, during trial within trial in the on going trial said contrary to the normal practice, his client later told him what transpired between him and EFCC interrogator whom he said gave some promises to the effect o his gaining freedom and not charging him to court if he could cooperate with them on Emefiele’s case.

The trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi, had earlier ordered trial within trial after the 2nd defendant had told the court he made the alleged statement tendered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), under duress.

“On the second day, when I arrived at EFCC office, I said my client statement must be taken in the presence of his lawyer. On enquiry, why that should not be so, one Mr David asked what right do I have to challenge how the statement was taken? I replied that I am his lawyer.

“The same, Mr David walked me out. I was surprised. I told Mr. Alvaan  what happened. He asked me to sit down somewhere apart from where they take my client to. There I sat from 10 am till 8 pm. I sat down waiting for the statement being taken from my client, but I was not called.

“During this period I called to enquire the procedure on what to do to secure second Defendant bail. I got response from Mr Alvaan who said my client had refused to cooperate with them and they knew he had a lot to tell them about the first Defendant. At this point I applied by writing a letter to Zonal director asking for bail”.

According to the Witness, being a lawyer of 10 years experience who have been accompanying his client to government agencies on many occasions, he could tell that the effect of promises made to his client was to induce him to write what he did not intend to write.

He said the interrogator insisted on some prepared questions and answers form which his client was told to answer in the way that suit the agency.

He said he complained to the head of interrogating team, Mr. Alvan Gurumnaan, who told him to sit down at a place.

“He was interrogated by close end questions and answers. He was asked to write satisfactorily. He was asked to answer questions the way that suits the officials of EFCC.

“There were various occasions when certain questions were put to him, but he was not allowed to answer the way he wanted to answer. There are certain times I interjected, but they said it’s either I allow him to answer their own way or not.

“While answering the questions, the interrogators jotted down some answers on A4 paper. He was given further A4 Paper.He had already written the answers to questions presented to him on an A4 paper.

Emefiele is facing a 19 -count bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands, while his co-defendant, Omoile, faces a three-count charge relating to the unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Further hearing has been adjourned till Friday, January 16, 2026.