Alleged $4.5bn Fraud: Co-Defendant Tells Court He Lied In EFCC Statement In Emefiele Trial

Henry Omoile, who is standing trial alongside former Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, over an alleged $4.5 billion fraud, on Friday told a Lagos court that he lied in the statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Omoile made the disclosure while testifying during a trial-within-trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos. The proceeding was instituted to determine whether the statement he gave to EFCC investigators was made voluntarily.

According to Omoile, the statements marked as Exhibits TWT 1–4 did not contain a genuine confession, claiming that he merely wrote what investigators allegedly instructed him to write.

“The statement exhibits in trial-within-trial 1–4, I did not confess in that statement. I lied in my statement. EFCC threatened me that if I did not write what they wanted, they would charge me to court,” he told the court.

Emefiele is currently facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC bordering on receiving gratification and making corrupt demands during his tenure as CBN governor, while Omoile is facing a three-count charge related to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

During cross-examination by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Omoile admitted that he was cautioned before making the statement and that he signed the cautionary words.

When asked whether the EFCC had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the allegations he raised, Omoile responded in the affirmative but admitted that he did not present the document before the court.

He further told the court that he had discussed with his lawyer the possibility of filing a fundamental human rights enforcement suit and confirmed that a motion ex parte had been tendered earlier in the day.

Under further questioning, Omoile acknowledged that the ruling he tendered had no direct bearing on Exhibit D4, although he insisted that the issues were connected.

“I just wanted to go home,” he said when asked about the circumstances surrounding the statement.

When the prosecution asked whether he had filed any complaint or petition against the EFCC investigative team over the alleged threats, Omoile responded in the negative.

Earlier in his testimony, Omoile alleged that EFCC investigators attempted to pressure him into implicating Emefiele in the case.

He claimed that the head of the investigative team, identified as Alvan, allegedly promised that he would be granted bail and might not be charged if he cooperated by providing incriminating evidence against the former CBN governor.

Following the testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter until April 17, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses.