Justice Rahman Oshodi of the Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, admitted extra-judicial statements made by embattled former Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Godwin Emefiele into evidence in his ongoing trial over alleged abuse of office and fraud.
The court ruled that the statements made on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023 are admitted in evidence and marked as exhibit K31.
The judge’s decision followed objection to the admissibility of the extra-judicial statements the prosecution sought to tender, contending that they were not made voluntarily.
Delivering the ruling, “First defendant statement made on October 27, October 30, and November 1, 2, 2023 have been admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits K31.”
Recall that Counsel to the first defendant, Olalekan Ojo, SAN argued that the statements were obtained through oppression as well as physical and mental torture, while his client was allegedly held in the custody of the Department of State Services, DSS, for over 157 days.
Prior to today’s ruling, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, who appeared with Bilikisu Buhari and C. C. Okezie, called the prosecution’s eighth witness, Alvan Gurumnaan, an investigator with the EFCC.
The witness had told the court that Emefiele was invited for questioning and that all the interviews were conducted in the presence of his legal representative.
He informed the court that the prosecution had voluntarily withdrawn the statement dated October 26, 2023, but sought to tender statements made on October 27, October 30, November 1 and November 2, 2023, as exhibits.
“If the defence does not want that statement, we are prepared to withdraw it. We are withdrawing it not because it was obtained through torture or oppression.
“There is nothing in the defendant’s statements that can be construed as an admission of the facts in issue,” he submitted.
Emefiele is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office and $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion fraud while serving as Governor of the CBN.
Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, is also facing a three-count charge bordering on the unlawful acceptance of gifts by an agent.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges at their arraignment.
At today’s proceeding, Oluwafemi Ojo held brief for the lead defence counsel, Ojo, while E. A Fashola.
Subsequently, Justice Oshodi fixed October 6, 7, 8 and November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.
