In a key development in the ongoing multi-billion naira fraud trial, Nnamdi Offia, counsel to Henry Omoile (co-defendant of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Godwin Emefiele), has told a Lagos special offences court that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) pressured his client to supply incriminating evidence against Emefiele.
Offia made the claim while testifying as a defence witness on Thursday, January 15, 2026, before Justice Rahman Oshodi at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja. The testimony took place during a trial-within-trial to determine the voluntariness of Omoile’s statements recorded by the EFCC.
According to Offia, during Omoile’s interrogation in February 2024, EFCC investigators allegedly offered his client leniency including the possibility of bail and avoiding prosecution if he cooperated by implicating Emefiele. He further alleged that the investigators refused to allow Omoile to record answers that did not align with what they wanted to hear.
“On several occasions, questions were put to the second defendant (Omoile), and he answered, but he was not allowed to write them down because the answer did not conform to what the interrogators wanted him to say,” Offia told the court.
The lawyer also described a February 27, 2024 incident in which he confronted an EFCC officer named David after discovering Omoile was being questioned in his absence. After the confrontation, Offia said he was asked to leave, and Omoile was later detained for 21 days following his refusal to cooperate.
Under cross-examination by EFCC lead counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Offia acknowledged that:
He did not file any formal petition or complaint against the investigators’ alleged conduct
Omoile was properly cautioned in his presence and signed the cautionary statement
He (Offia) was present for portions of the statement-taking process
Omoile understood the statements could be used against him in court.
The court also heard that Omoile’s fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos resulted in bail being granted by Justice Muslim Hamza, though the judge ordered Omoile remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre until bail conditions were fulfilled and made no finding of misconduct against the EFCC.
Emefiele faces a 19-count charge including receiving gratification, corrupt demands, and abuse of office, while Omoile faces a three-count charge for unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent.
The allegations relate to transactions reportedly involving $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to Friday, January 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
The outcome of this mini-trial will determine whether Omoile’s statements are admissible as evidence in the main case.
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