Godwin Emefiele's Statements Admitted as Evidence in $4.5bn Fraud Trial

The Lagos State Special Offences Court in Ikeja ruled that extra‑judicial statements allegedly made by former Central Bank of Nigeria governor Godwin Emefiele to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are admissible as exhibits in his ongoing corruption case. Justice Rahman Oshodi marked the statements as Exhibit K31 and rejected the defence’s objection that they were obtained under duress.

Emefiele faces a 19‑count charge of abuse of office, receipt of gratification and fraudulent property transactions involving about $4.5 billion (N2.8 billion). Co‑defendant Henry Omoile is charged with three counts of unlawful receipt of gifts. Both have pleaded not guilty. The court noted that none of the statements constitutes a confession, with the prosecution stating, "There is nothing in the defendant’s statements that can be construed as an admission of the facts in issue."

The trial was adjourned to October 6‑8 and November 11‑13 2026 for further proceedings. Defence counsel Olalekan Ojo, SAN, argued the statements were extracted after over 157 days of detention by the Department of State Services and without video recordings, but the court found the prosecution’s position sufficient to admit the evidence.