Henry Omolie, the second defendant in the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud trial of the former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele, Friday told a Lagos court that statements he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were obtained through threats, inducement, oppression, undue influence, and intimidation.
He made the claim through written addresses adopted by his counsel, Akinsanya Kotoye (SAN), alongside Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), before the trial judge, Justice Rahman Oshodi.
The court had previously ordered the mini-trial to determine whether Omolie’s statements, which the prosecution seeks to tender as evidence, were made under duress.
The defence said that Omolie was traumatized and pressured during interrogation.
His lawyer was allegedly sent out of the interrogation room, depriving him of legal representation, and made to write statements on blank A4 sheets, which were later vetted and rewritten under instruction.
The anti-crime commission allegedly promised him release if he implicated Emefiele, amounting to inducement.
Kotoye further relied on Section 17(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice framework, arguing that the absence of video recording of the statement-taking process renders the statements unreliable and inadmissible.
“One of the major ways of determining voluntariness of a document is the production of video evidence,” the defence added.
But the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), maintained that the statements were made freely and in compliance with the law.
He added that:”The lack of video recording does not invalidate the statements.Due process was followed in obtaining the documents.
An EFCC witness had earlier told the court that Omolie’s statements were given voluntarily, contradicting the defence’s claims.
Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands, and abuse of office linked to large-scale financial transactions.
Omoile, his associate, faces a three-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts while acting as an agent in transactions connected to the CBN.
The charges involve alleged transactions estimated at $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion, which the prosecution claims represent serious breaches of trust and procedure.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter to May 4, 2026, for ruling on the admissibility of the contested statements.