$4.5bn Emefiele Fraud Trial: Co-Defendant Henry Omoile Claims He Lied to EFCC Under Duress

Co-defendant Henry Omoile tells a Lagos court he lied in his EFCC statement under pressure to implicate former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 7, 2026, 4:34 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Independent Newspaper Nigeria

Drama in the Special Offences Court

The ongoing $4.5 billion fraud trial involving former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele took a dramatic turn on Friday, March 6, 2026. Henry Omoile, who is standing trial alongside the former apex bank chief, admitted before Justice Rahman Oshodi that the statements he previously provided to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were false. Testifying in a trial-within-trial specifically convened to determine if his statements were made voluntarily, Omoile claimed he was coerced into writing what investigators dictated rather than a genuine confession.

Allegations of Coercion and Threats

Omoile told the Ikeja Special Offences Court that he felt threatened by the EFCC investigative team. "I lied in my statement. EFCC threatened me that if I did not write what they wanted, they would charge me to court," Omoile testified. He specifically identified a lead investigator named Alvan, who he claimed promised him bail and immunity from prosecution if he provided incriminating evidence against Emefiele. Under intense questioning, Omoile stated that his primary motivation at the time was simply a desire to "go home," leading him to sign the cautionary words and the exhibits marked TWT 1–4 despite their alleged inaccuracy.

The Prosecution’s Cross-Examination

Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, challenged Omoile's claims of duress during cross-examination. Oyedepo pointed out that Omoile had been properly cautioned and had signed the documents willingly at the time. The prosecution further noted that Omoile had failed to file any formal complaints or petitions against the investigative team regarding these alleged threats prior to the trial. When asked if he had produced any counter-affidavits to support his claims of human rights violations, Omoile admitted he had not presented such documents to the court that morning, though a motion ex parte regarding his fundamental rights had been mentioned.