How EFCC offered me bail to force Statement against Emefiele – Witness

By Akin Kuponiyi

A witness in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, on Friday told the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to coerce him into implicating Emefiele in an alleged $4.5 billion fraud case in exchange for bail.

The witness, Henry Omolie, made the allegation while testifying during a trial-within-trial before Rahman Oshodi, which is aimed at determining the voluntariness of a statement the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission claims Omolie wrote willingly.

Emefiele, the first defendant, is facing a 19-count charge bordering on receiving gratification and corrupt demands, while Omolie, the second defendant, is standing trial on three counts relating to unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Led in evidence by his counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye, SAN, Omolie told the court that EFCC officials subjected him to repeated interrogations over several days, pressing him to make statements that aligned with a prepared version allegedly made by Emefiele’s dispatch rider.

He said his responses were rejected whenever they did not suit the investigators, forcing him to repeatedly rewrite statements.

Omolie further alleged that he was denied access to his lawyer during questioning and was shown a pre-written statement which he was asked to reproduce and sign.

He told the court that EFCC officials said his “cooperation” would secure his release on bail, adding that he refused to endorse any statement that did not reflect what he knew.

Justice Oshodi adjourned proceedings in the trial-within-trial until February 6, 2026, for continuation.