Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Emefiele’s Co-Defendant’s Statement Said Voluntary, Witness Tells Court.

A prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud, has told the court that Omoile’s statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were made voluntarily. Alvan Gurumnaan, an EFCC operative, testified on Tuesday before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court, Ikeja, rejecting claims that Omoile’s statements were obtained under duress. The defence had earlier challenged the admissibility of these statements, arguing that they were coerced. “The second defendant did not make any statement under duress. Our officers do not force statements through violence,” Gurumnaan said, adding that it was the defendant’s responsibility to prove duress. He described the EFCC conference room where the statements were taken as open and professional, and noted that Omoile attended with his lawyer and the acting MD of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System. Four statements made by Omoile on February 26 and 27, 2024 were admitted as exhibits during the trial-within-trial. Gurumnaan confirmed that Omoile was in EFCC custody during the process, was cautioned before giving his statements, and signed the documents in the presence of his lawyer, E. N. Offiong. Under cross-examination, Gurumnaan acknowledged that the statements were not video recorded, citing operational constraints. Emefiele faces a 19-count charge related to receiving gratification and making corrupt demands while CBN Governor, while Omoile is facing three counts of unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial was adjourned to January 15 and 16, 2026 for continuation of the trial-within-trial.

| 2025-12-03 06:30:57