Witness claims EFCC tried to pressure co-defendant to implicate Emefiele
A defence witness, Nnamdi Offial, told the Special Offences Court in Ikeja that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission attempted to coerce his client, Henry Omoile, into implicating former Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele. Offial alleged that EFCC investigators offered inducements such as bail and possible non-prosecution if Omoile provided incriminating evidence against Emefiele. He described restrictive interrogation tactics and said his client was detained for 21 days. The trial continues with both men maintaining their not guilty pleas.
What we know
- Nnamdi Offial testified that EFCC officials tried to pressure his client, Henry Omoile, into implicating Godwin Emefiele.
- Offial alleged that inducements, including bail and non-prosecution, were offered if Omoile cooperated with investigators.
- He recounted that after the session of February 26, 2024, Omoile was further detained and later interrogated without Offial’s presence.
- Offial said he filed a fundamental rights suit after Omoile was detained for 21 days, and bail was granted by Justice Muslim Hamza.
- Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the matter to January 16, 2026, for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
