Court Admits Emefiele’s Statements in Alleged $4.5bn Fraud Trial, Rejects Torture Objection
The Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, has admitted into evidence extra-judicial statements made by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in his ongoing trial over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, held that statements made by Emefiele on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023, were admissible and marked them as Exhibit P31.
“The first defendant’s statements made on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023, have been admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit P31,” the judge ruled.
Emefiele is standing trial before the court on a 19-count charge filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), bordering on alleged receiving of gratification and making corrupt demands while serving as CBN Governor.
His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a separate three-count charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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Before the ruling, Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), opposed the admissibility of the statements, arguing that they were not voluntarily made.
He told the court that his client was subjected to physical and mental torture while being held by the Department of State Services (DSS) for more than 157 days, and urged the court to reject the statements.
However, the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), called EFCC investigator Alvan Gurumnaan, who testified that Emefiele was invited for questioning and that all interviews were conducted in the presence of his legal representative.
The prosecution also informed the court that it had voluntarily withdrawn Emefiele’s statement dated October 26, 2023, but maintained that the subsequent statements were lawfully obtained and admissible.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Oshodi dismissed the defence’s objection and admitted the four statements into evidence, clearing the way for the substantive hearing of the case.
The judge subsequently adjourned the trial to October 6, 7 and 8, as well as November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of proceedings.
