The Special Offences Division of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has admitted into evidence extrajudicial statements made by former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, in his ongoing trial over alleged abuse of office, corruption and multi-billion-naira fraud.
Justice Rahman Oshodi delivered the ruling on Thursday, holding that the statements sought to be tendered by the prosecution were not confessional in nature and, therefore, did not require a trial-within-a-trial before they could be admitted.
The court rejected objections raised by Emefiele’s legal team, which had argued that the statements were not voluntarily obtained.
The defence had maintained that the former CBN governor made the statements after spending more than 157 days in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), where they alleged he was subjected to physical and psychological torture.
Counsel for Emefiele urged the court to reject the statements, insisting they were obtained under circumstances that violated his constitutional rights.
However, Justice Oshodi ruled that the defence failed to establish sufficient grounds to invalidate the statements.
The judge further agreed with the prosecution that the statements did not amount to confessions because they contained no admission of the offences alleged against the defendant.
Consequently, the court admitted into evidence the statements Emefiele made during interviews with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in late 2023.
In reaching the decision, the judge also dismissed the defence’s reliance on the Anti-Torture Act as the basis for excluding the statements from evidence.
The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that the interviews were conducted in accordance with the law.
According to him, Emefiele’s legal representative was present throughout the interview sessions with EFCC investigators.
Oyedepo maintained that the statements contained no admission of guilt and therefore could not be regarded as confessional statements requiring a separate hearing before admissibility.
During the proceedings, the prosecution also withdrew one of the statements it had initially sought to tender before the court.
Emefiele is standing trial alongside his co-defendant, Henry Omoile, on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, corruption, receiving gratification and fraudulent property transactions.
The prosecution alleges that the offences involve transactions worth about $4.5 billion and N2.8 billion.
Omoile is also facing separate charges relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts.
Both defendants have denied all the allegations brought against them and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following Thursday’s ruling, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter for the continuation of trial.
The case will resume on October 6, 7 and 8, 2026, and continue on November 11, 12 and 13, 2026.
