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A defence witness on Thursday told the Special Offences Court in Ikeja that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) attempted to coerce a co-defendant into implicating former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
The witness, Nnamdi Offial, alleged that EFCC investigators pressured his client, Henry Omoile, to provide incriminating evidence against Emefiele in exchange for bail and possible non-prosecution.
Offial, who is counsel to Omoile—the second defendant in the ongoing $4.5 billion and ₦2.8 billion fraud trial—made the claims while testifying in a trial-within-trial ordered by Justice Rahman Oshodi. The hearing is to determine whether Omoile’s statement to the EFCC was obtained voluntarily.
Alleged Inducement and Interrogation Tactics
According to Offial, EFCC officials assured Omoile that cooperation would earn him leniency. He further alleged that investigators imposed a restrictive question-and-answer format during interrogation, preventing Omoile from recording answers that did not align with their expectations.
“On several occasions, questions were put to the second defendant and he answered, but he was not allowed to write them down because the answers did not conform to what the interrogators wanted him to say. I objected to this many times,” Offial told the court.
He said that after an interrogation session on February 26, 2024, officers informed him that Omoile would remain in detention.
The following day, Offial claimed he discovered that his client was being interrogated in his absence. When he challenged the process, an officer identified as David confronted him, leading to a confrontation that resulted in his removal from the premises.
“I reported the incident to the team leader, who asked me to remain in the waiting area,” he said.
Offial stated that he did not regain access to his client until about 8:00 p.m., when Omoile was returned to the detention facility.
Detention and Bail Proceedings
He further disclosed that EFCC officers later informed him that Omoile had refused to cooperate and would not be released, prompting him to apply for bail through the EFCC zonal head.
According to Offial, Omoile was detained for 21 days, after which he filed a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos.
He said Justice Muslim Hamza granted bail but ordered that Omoile be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of bail conditions.
Charges Against Defendants
Emefiele and Omoile are facing multiple charges, including accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, corruption, and fraudulent receipt of property. They are also accused of conferring corrupt advantages on associates, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.
Cross-Examination Revelations
During cross-examination by EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Offial made several admissions.
He confirmed that investigators cautioned Omoile in his presence and that his client signed the caution. He also acknowledged participating in the statement-taking process and understood that any statement made could be used in court.
Offial further admitted that he did not file a petition or formally report the alleged misconduct. He also conceded that the judge in the fundamental rights suit did not indict the EFCC and that his client was not harassed in his presence.
Next Hearing
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to January 16, 2026, for the continuation of the trial-within-trial proceedings.
