Court Admits Emefiele’s EFCC Statements In Alleged $4.5 Billion Fraud Trial

The Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, has admitted in evidence extra-judicial statements allegedly made by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Naija News reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi gave the ruling on Thursday, dismissing objections raised by Emefiele’s legal team against the admissibility of the statements.

The court held that a trial-within-trial was unnecessary because the statements did not amount to confessional statements.

Justice Oshodi ruled that for an extra-judicial statement to qualify as confessional, it must contain an unequivocal admission of the offences alleged against the maker.

According to the judge, nothing in Emefiele’s statements could be interpreted as an admission of the facts in issue.

The court consequently admitted as exhibits statements allegedly made by Emefiele on October 27, October 30, November 11, November 12 and November 13, 2023.

The case was adjourned till October 6, 7 and 8, and November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.

Emefiele is standing trial alongside Henry Omoile on a 19-count charge bordering on abuse of office, receiving gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption and fraudulent property transactions involving about $4.5bn and ₦2.8bn.

Omoile is facing a three-count charge for allegedly receiving unlawful gifts in connection with transactions involving the CBN.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Emefiele’s counsel, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had urged the court to reject the statements, alleging that they were obtained through oppression and torture while his client was in DSS custody.

However, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that the statements were not confessional and that there was no legal basis for a trial-within-trial.