Inside the courtroom: Allegations of coercion, silence, power in Emefiele’s high-stakes trial

The hushed atmosphere of the Special Offences Court in Ikeja on Thursday was pierced by serious allegations that strike at the heart of Nigeria’s criminal justice process.

In testimony that added fresh tension to the ongoing $4.5 billion and N2.8 million fraud trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, a defence witness accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of attempting to coerce a suspect into turning against its prime target.

Mr. Nnamdi Offial, a lawyer and defence witness, told the court that EFCC officials tried to pressure his client, Mr. Henry Omoile, into implicating Emefiele in exchange for inducements such as bail and possible non-prosecution. Omoile is the second defendant in the high-profile corruption case that has continued to draw intense public attention.

Offial’s testimony came during a trial-within-a-trial ordered by Justice Rahman Oshodi to determine whether statements allegedly made by Omoile to the EFCC were obtained voluntarily or under duress—an issue that could prove pivotal to the outcome of the case.

According to Offial, the interrogation process was deeply flawed.

He alleged that investigators conducted questioning in a rigid question-and-answer format, refusing to allow Omoile to write responses that did not align with what the EFCC officers expected.

“On several occasions, questions were put to the second defendant and he answered, but he was not allowed to write them down because the answers did not conform to what the interrogators wanted him to say. I objected to this many times,” Offial told the court.

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The lawyer further recounted events following an interrogation session on February 26, 2024, claiming EFCC officers informed him that Omoile would remain in detention. The following day, he said, he discovered that his client was being interrogated without legal representation—an action he challenged immediately.

Offial testified that his protest sparked a confrontation with an officer identified as David, culminating in what he described as a “showdown” that led to him being escorted out of the EFCC premises. He said he later reported the incident to the team leader, who instructed him to remain in the waiting area.

Access to his client, he added, was denied until late in the evening, when Omoile was returned to detention.

“Later, I was told that he had refused to cooperate with them and that they were not going to release him. That was when I applied for bail from the EFCC zonal head,” Offial said.

The lawyer disclosed that Omoile was detained for 21 days, prompting him to file a fundamental rights enforcement suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

He said Justice Muslim Hamza granted bail but ordered that Omoile be remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of bail conditions.

The allegations add another layer of controversy to a case in which Emefiele and Omoile are accused of accepting gratification, receiving gifts through agents, fraudulent receipt of property, and conferring corrupt advantages on associates, contrary to the Corrupt Practices Act, 2000. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty.

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However, under cross-examination by EFCC prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), cracks emerged in the defence narrative. Offial admitted that Omoile was cautioned in his presence before making his statement and that the caution was duly signed.

He also confirmed that he participated in the statement-taking process and understood that any statement made could be used against his client in court.

Significantly, Offial acknowledged that he did not file any petition or formally report the alleged misconduct to authorities. He further conceded that the judge who handled the fundamental rights suit did not indict the EFCC for wrongdoing and that his client was not harassed in his presence.

The courtroom exchanges underscored the delicate balance between aggressive crime investigation and the protection of suspects’ rights—an issue that continues to trail high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria.

Justice Oshodi adjourned proceedings to January 16, 2026, for the continuation of the trial-within-a-trial, as the court seeks to determine whether the contested statements will stand as valid evidence or be struck out.