The Special Offences Division of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has admitted into evidence the extrajudicial statements made by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in his ongoing trial over alleged abuse of office and multi-billion-naira fraud.
News Point Nigeria reports that Justice Rahman Oshodi ruled that the statements were not confessional in nature and, therefore, did not require a trial-within-a-trial to determine their admissibility.
Emefiele’s defence team had opposed the admission of the statements, arguing that they were obtained involuntarily while the former CBN governor was detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) for more than 157 days.
The defence alleged that Emefiele was subjected to both physical and psychological torture during the period of his detention and urged the court to reject the statements.
However, Justice Oshodi held that the objections raised by the defence lacked merit.
The court also agreed with the prosecution’s submission that none of the statements amounted to a confession or admission of the offences alleged against the former CBN governor.
Consequently, the judge admitted into evidence the statements made by Emefiele during interviews with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in late 2023, dismissing the defence’s reliance on the Anti-Torture Act to challenge their admissibility.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), told the court that the interviews were conducted in the presence of Emefiele’s legal representative.
Oyedepo maintained that the statements contained no admission of guilt and informed the court that the prosecution had withdrawn one of the statements it had earlier sought to tender.
Emefiele and his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, are standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, corruption, receiving gratification and fraudulent property transactions involving about 4.5 billion dollars and N2.8 billion.
Omoile is also facing separate charges relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to all the charges preferred against them.
Following the ruling, Justice Oshodi adjourned the case until October 6, 7 and 8, and November 11, 12 and 13, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.