Emefiele Trial: Court Adjourns Hearing to January 16
By Ranti Thomas
A Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja has adjourned the trial within trial in the ongoing criminal case involving former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, to Friday, January 16, 2026.
The adjournment followed proceedings before Justice Ramon Oshodi, who heard testimony from lawyer Nnamdi Offia under cross-examination by the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo. Offia, representing one of the defendants, confirmed that he witnessed Emefiele being cautioned and signing the caution statement during the EFCC investigation.
Offia told the court that he was present throughout the interrogation process and was aware that what the defendant wrote could be used against him in court. He further stated that no petition or complaint had been filed regarding the conduct of the investigative team and that a previous Fundamental Rights Enforcement case did not find the EFCC guilty of any misconduct.
During the hearing, Offia recounted that the head of the EFCC team, Omoile, assured his client that cooperation could result in bail and the possibility of not being charged, provided incriminating information was disclosed. He explained that the interrogation was conducted in a question-and-answer format, but on several occasions, Emefiele’s answers were not recorded because they did not align with what the investigators wanted.
“On February 26, 2024, the session ended with the officers telling me they would be detaining him because they were not done,” Offia testified. He added that when he questioned the team about their methods, he was challenged and escorted out of the interrogation room, and only allowed to provide legal support later in the evening.
Offia further stated that after the defendant refused to cooperate, he applied to the EFCC Zonal Head for bail. Emefiele was detained for 21 days before filing a Fundamental Rights case at the Federal High Court in Lagos. Justice Muslims Hamza subsequently granted bail but ordered that Emefiele be remanded in Ikoyi Correctional Centre until the bail conditions were perfected.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to January 16 for the continuation of the trial within trial.