• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

Henry Omoile, the second defendant in the ongoing trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, yesterday said his statement made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not the truth. He told the court that he lied in the statement he made to the Commission, claiming that he wrote what investigators asked him to write. Omoile made the disclosure while testifying during a trial-within-trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The trial-within-trial was instituted to determine the voluntariness of the statement he made to EFCC investigators. Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC, bordering on receiving gratification and making corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN Governor. Omoile, on the other hand, is facing a three-count charge bordering on unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The witness said the statements marked as Exhibits TWT 1-4 did not contain a genuine confession. "The statement of exhibits in trial-within-trial 1-4, I did not confess it in that statement. I lied in my statement. EFCC threatened that if I did not write what they wanted, they would charge me to court," he said. During cross-examination by the prosecution lawyer, Omoile admitted that he was cautioned before making the statement and that he signed the cautionary words. When asked whether the EFCC had filed a counter-affidavit to oppose the allegations he raised, Omoile responded in the affirmative. However, he admitted that he did not produce the document before the court. He also told the court that he had discussed with his lawyer about filing a fundamental human rights enforcement suit. He confirmed that the motion ex parte was tendered before the court that yesterday morning. Under further questioning, he acknowledged that the ruling he tendered had no direct bearing on Exhibit D4, although he insisted that both issues were connected. "I just wanted to go home," he said while responding to questions regarding the circumstances surrounding the statement. When asked by the prosecution whether he had filed any complaint or petition against the EFCC investigative team over the alleged threats, Omoile answered in the negative. Earlier in the proceedings, Omoile had alleged that EFCC investigators attempted to pressure him into implicating Emefiele. According to him, the head of the investigative team, identified as Alvan, allegedly promised that he would be granted bail and might not be charged if he cooperated by providing incriminating evidence against the former CBN governor. Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the matter till April 17, 2026, for adoption of final written addresses by parties. Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/emefieles-alleged-4-5bn-fraud-omoile-admits-lying-in-statement-made-to-efcc/