A defence witness on Thursday alleged that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission attempted to compel his client to implicate embattled former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, in the multibillion-naira corruption case currently before an Ikeja Special Offences Court.
Testifying in a trial-within-a-trial ordered by Justice Rahman Oshodi, lawyer to the second defendant, Nnamdi Offial, claimed EFCC officials offered inducements to his client, Henry Omoile, to secure statements tying Emefiele to alleged fraudulent transactions.
Emefiele and Omoile are jointly standing trial over alleged acceptance of gratification, corrupt receipt of property, and conferring undue advantages on associates, contrary to provisions of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Both men have denied wrongdoing.
Offial told the court that interrogators promised his client bail and possible exemption from prosecution if he provided incriminating testimony against the former apex bank chief.
He further alleged that investigators dictated the pace and content of the statement-taking exercise, refusing to allow Omoile document answers that did not “fit their narrative.”
“Each time he responded in a manner inconsistent with what the investigators wanted, he was prevented from writing it down.
“I opposed this repeatedly,” the witness said.
He narrated that after a February 26 interrogation, officers indicated Omoile would remain in custody, and the next day he found his client being quizzed without him present, a development that led to a confrontation.
Offial said a member of the investigative team, identified simply as David, challenged him, after which he was escorted off the premises.
He claimed he was denied further access to his client until around 8pm.
According to him, Omoile was detained for 21 days, prompting him to file a fundamental rights enforcement action before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
Justice Muslim Hamza granted bail but directed that Omoile be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre until he met the terms.
However, during cross-examination by EFCC counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Offial conceded that the defendant was properly cautioned and signed the caution, that he personally witnessed the statement-taking process, and that he understood the legal implications of his client’s written statements.
He also admitted that he neither lodged a formal complaint nor filed a petition alleging misconduct by EFCC investigators, and confirmed that the judge did not fault the agency’s conduct in the rights suit.
Justice Oshodi adjourned further proceedings in the trial-within-a-trial to January 16, 2026.