Witness claims EFCC forced him to implicate Emefiele in $4.5bn fraud trial

By Akin Kuponiyi

A defendant in the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud trial involving former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, on Friday told the Ikeja Special Offences Court that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) allegedly compelled him to write a statement implicating the ex-CBN chief.

Henry Omolie, the second defendant in the case, made the allegation while testifying before Justice Rahman Oshodi during a trial-within-trial convened to determine whether a purported confessional statement he made in EFCC custody was voluntary.

Omolie, who is standing trial alongside Emefiele, claimed the anti-graft agency pressured him into making statements linking the former apex bank governor to the alleged fraud.

According to him, the incident occurred during an interrogation session when his lawyer, Nnamdi Offiah, was asked to leave the room by EFCC operatives.

He told the court that the development left him shocked and traumatised, adding that his counsel had merely questioned why the statement was being taken in his absence.

“Despite the fact that my lawyer had not made any offensive remarks but had only questioned why the statement was taken without him being present, they insisted he should leave,” Omolie said.

He added that his lawyer protested the decision but was told by the officials that they had their own procedures for conducting interrogations.

Omolie further alleged that when it became clear he would not be released, he instructed his lawyer to initiate a fundamental human rights action on his behalf after an EFCC official allegedly informed him he would not be granted bail.

According to the defendant, an EFCC operative identified as Alvaan allegedly promised that he would be granted bail if he cooperated with investigators, but threatened detention and prosecution if he failed to comply.

“He made me promises that if I cooperate 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,” Omolie told the court.

“At that stage I agreed to cooperate with them. Thereafter, the interrogation continued.”

Omolie also told the court that he was asked to write certain statements which he declined, insisting that he had no knowledge of the matters he was being asked to include.

“He wanted me to write certain things which I told him I cannot write because I do not have knowledge of them. He said he would not release me,” he added.

Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC bordering on alleged gratification and corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor.

His co-defendant, Omolie, is facing a three-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned further proceedings in the case to April 17, 2026, when both parties are expected to adopt their written addresses in the ongoing trial-within-trial.