$4.5bn Fraud Trial: Omoile Gave Statements Voluntarily, EFCC Witness Tells Court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday told the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, that Henry Omoile, the co-defendant in the ongoing $4.5 billion fraud case involving former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, voluntarily made his statements to investigators.

An EFCC operative, appearing as a prosecution witness, testified that Mr Omoile was neither pressured nor coerced at any point while giving his statements in relation to the case. According to the witness, all procedures were duly followed, and the defendant willingly cooperated with investigators.

Mr Emefiele and Mr Omoile are standing trial on 22 counts. Nineteen of the charges bordering on alleged gratification, abuse of office, and corrupt demands are directed at the former CBN governor.

The remaining three counts, which relate to the alleged receipt of unlawful gifts, are against Mr Omoile.

The EFCC maintains that the defendants played key roles in transactions linked to the alleged multi-billion-dollar fraud during Mr Emefiele’s tenure as CBN governor. Both men have pleaded not guilty.

The trial continues as the court is expected to hear more testimonies from EFCC witnesses in the coming sessions.