Henry Omoile, a co-defendant in the corruption trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele, has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of pressuring him to provide incriminating evidence against Emefiele in exchange for bail and non-prosecution.
The allegation was made on Thursday by Omoile’s counsel, Nnamdi Offia, during a trial-within-trial at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos. The mini-trial is examining whether Omoile’s statements to the EFCC were made voluntarily.
Key Allegations Against the EFCC
Offia testified that during Omoile’s interrogation on February 26, 2024, EFCC investigators restricted his client, preventing him from giving answers that did not align with their desired narrative. He claimed the investigators promised bail and immunity from prosecution if Omoile cooperated by providing evidence against Emefiele.
“The defendant was detained for 21 days. The EFCC investigators promised my client bail and non-prosecution if he provided incriminating evidence against Emefiele,” Offia stated.
The lawyer further alleged he was barred from providing legal services during parts of the interrogation and was once physically escorted out of the EFCC premises by an officer named David after challenging the process.
Context of the Case
Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge for alleged corruption and receiving gratification while leading the CBN. Omoile, his co-defendant, is charged with unlawfully accepting gifts. A prosecution witness had earlier testified that he collected cash dollars for Emefiele and handed them over to Omoile.
The trial-within-trial was ordered by Justice Ramon Oshodi after Omoile’s legal team contested the voluntariness of his statements to the EFCC.
Cross-Examination and Denials
During cross-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, Offia admitted that he did not file a formal complaint or petition against the EFCC team’s alleged misconduct. He also acknowledged that the judge who later granted Omoile bail did not rule that the EFCC acted improperly or that Omoile was harassed in his lawyer’s presence.
The hearing has been adjourned to a later date for continuation. The allegations add a contentious layer to an already high-profile case, raising questions about interrogation practices and the integrity of evidence-gathering in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.
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