Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Court Admits Emefiele’s Statements As Exhibit In Ongoing Trial
By Daniel Ojukwu
The Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, has admitted into evidence a series of extra-judicial statements made by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in his ongoing trial over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, July 9, 2026, held that statements made by Emefiele on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023, were admissible and marked them as Exhibit K30.
The judge ruled: “First defendant’s statements made on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023, have been admitted in evidence and marked as Exhibit K30.”
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 19-count chargebordering on alleged receipt of gratification and making corrupt demands while serving as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
His co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is facing a three-count charge bordering on the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During the proceedings, counsel to Emefiele, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), objected to the admissibility of the extra-judicial statements, arguing that they were not made voluntarily.
According to the defence, the former CBN governor was allegedly subjected to physical and psychological oppression while being detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for more than 157 days, insisting that the statements should be rejected by the court.
In response, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), who appeared alongside Bilikisu Buhari and C. C. Okezie, called the prosecution’s eighth witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, an investigator with the EFCC.
While giving evidence, Gurumnaan told the court that Emefiele honoured the EFCC’s invitation for questioning and that all interviews were conducted in the presence of his legal representative.
The witness further disclosed that although the prosecution had decided to withdraw Emefiele’s statement dated October 26, 2023, the decision was not because it was obtained through torture or oppression.
He explained that the prosecution was only seeking to tender the statements dated October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023.
According to him, “If the defence does not want that statement, we are prepared to withdraw it. We are withdrawing it not because it was obtained through torture or oppression. There is nothing in the defendant’s statements that can be construed as an admission of the facts in issue.”
After considering the submissions of both parties, Justice Oshodi overruled the defence’s objection and admitted the four statements into evidence as Exhibit K30, allowing the substantive hearing to continue.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter to October 6, 7 and 8, 2026, as well as November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.