• Super Admin
• 07 Mar, 2026

A defendant, Henry Omolie, in the ongoing trial of Godwin Emefiele Friday, told the Ikeja Special Offences Court that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly forced him to write a statement to implicate the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele. Omolie, who is the second defendant in the alleged $4.5 billion fraud case filed by the EFCC against him and Emefiele, testified before Justice Rahman Oshodi during a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of a purported confessional statement he made while in EFCC custody. In his continuation of evidence, the witness told the court that he was shocked and traumatised when his lawyer, Nnamdi Offiah, was asked to leave the interrogation room. "he said by this act he was surprised, afraid, and traumatised. He had to beg Mr. Azeez to allow him some time to recover from the shock. Despite the fact that his lawyer had not made any offensive remarks, he had only questioned why the statement was taken in his absence. "He was only asking why I should write a statement without him being present. He protested, but they said they had their own way of conducting interrogations. Omolie further stated When it dawned on him that he would not be released, he told his lawyer to file a Fundamental Human Rights action on his behalf, because Alvaan told him he would not be granted bail. "He made me promises that if I cooperated with him, he would release me on bail, but that he would detain me or prosecute me if I failed to do what he wanted me to do and would subsequently charge me in court. At this stage, I agreed to cooperate with them. Thereafter, the interrogation continued. "He also wanted me to write certain things which I told him I couldn't write because I do not know them. He told me he would not release me. Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, bordering on receiving gratification and making corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN Governor. His co-defendant, Henry Omolie, is facing three count charge related to the unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both Defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till April 17, 2026, when both parties will adopt their written addresses in the trial within trial. Source: https://thenewsnigeria.com.ng/2026/03/07/emefieles-4-5b-fraud-trial-efcc-forced-me-to-write-statement-to-indict-emefiele-witness/