The Special Offences Division of the Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has admitted into evidence extrajudicial statements made by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele in his ongoing trial over alleged abuse of office and multi-billion-naira fraud.
In admitting the statements, Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that the statements were not confessional in nature and did not require a trial-within-a-trial to determine their admissibility
Emefiele’s defence team had argued that the statements were obtained involuntarily while the former CBN governor was detained by the Department of State Services for over 157 days, alleging that he was subjected to physical and psychological torture.
But the court held that the objections lacked merit. The court also agreed with the prosecution that none of the statements amounted to an admission of the offences alleged against the defendant.
The judge consequently admitted into evidence statements made by Emefiele during interviews with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in late 2023, dismissing the defence’s reliance on the Anti-Torture Act to challenge their admissibility.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the interviews were conducted in the presence of Emefiele’s legal representative and insisted that the statements contained no admission of guilt. The prosecution also withdrew one of the statements earlier sought to be tendered.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, corruption, receiving gratification, and fraudulent property transactions involving about 4.5 billion dollars and 2.8 billion naira. Omoile is separately facing charges relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Oshodi has adjourned the case to October 6, 7 and 8 and November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
