Former Central Bank Governor Emefiele challenges admissibility of EFCC statements in fraud trial

Former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, has challenged the admissibility of statements the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC sought to use against him in his ongoing trial for alleged $4.5bn and N2.8bn fraud and abuse of office. Emefiele's lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo SAN, argued before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State High Court that the statements were obtained under oppressive, dehumanizing, and torturous conditions while Emefiele was in EFCC custody. Ojo contended that the statements were not voluntarily made, alleging Emefiele was held incommunicado for over 157 days. He cited the Evidence Act and the Anti-Torture Act, stating that Section 4 of the Anti-Torture Act prohibits the admission of confessions or statements obtained through torture or inhumane treatment. The issue arose when the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo SAN, attempted to tender the statements through a prosecution witness. The defense requested a trial-within-trial to determine voluntariness, which the prosecution opposed for the remaining statements, arguing they were not confessional. Justice Oshodi adjourned ruling on the admissibility of the statements until July 9, 2026, and the substantive trial to October 6, 7, 8, and 9, 2026.