Henry Omoile, a co-defendant in the alleged $4.5 billion fraud case involving former Central Bank governor Godwin Emefiele, has told a Lagos court that the statement he made to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) was false and written under pressure from investigators.
Omoile made the claim on Friday while testifying in a trial-within-a-trial before Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos.
The trial-within-a-trial was convened to determine whether the statements Omoile made to EFCC investigators were voluntarily given.
While being led in evidence by his counsel, Adeyinka Kotoye, Omoile insisted that the statements admitted as exhibits TWT 1–4 were not genuine confessions.
“The statement exhibits in trial-within-trial 1–4; I did not confess in that statement. I lied in my statement. The EFCC threatened me that if I did not write what they wanted, they would charge me to court,” he told the court.
The former CBN governor, Emefiele, is facing a 19-count charge filed by the EFCC bordering on receiving gratification and making corrupt demands during his tenure as governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Omoile, who is standing trial alongside him, faces a separate three-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts as an agent. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
During cross-examination by Rotimi Oyedepo, counsel to the EFCC, Omoile acknowledged that he was cautioned before making the statement and confirmed that he signed the cautionary words.
He also admitted that the EFCC had filed a counter-affidavit opposing the allegations he raised but said he did not present the document before the court.
The defendant further told the court that he had discussed the possibility of filing a fundamental human rights enforcement suit with his lawyer and confirmed that a motion ex parte had already been filed earlier in the day.
Under further questioning, Omoile conceded that the ruling he tendered had no direct bearing on exhibit D4, although he insisted that both matters were connected.
“I just wanted to go home,” he said when asked about the circumstances under which he made the statement.
When asked whether he had filed any complaint or petition against the EFCC investigative team over the alleged threats, Omoile replied that he had not.
Earlier in the proceedings, Omoile also alleged that EFCC investigators attempted to pressure him into implicating Emefiele in the alleged fraud.
According to him, the head of the investigative team, identified as Alvan, told him he could be granted bail and might avoid being charged if he cooperated with investigators by providing incriminating evidence against the former CBN governor.
Justice Oshodi subsequently adjourned the case until April 17 for the adoption of final written addresses.
Boluwatife Enome
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