Emefiele Challenges EFCC Statements in Court

Godwin Emefiele, the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, has requested the Lagos State High Court to reject statements from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that are intended to be used in his ongoing trial concerning allegations of a ₦4.5 billion fraud. Emefiele's lead counsel, Olalekan Ojo, contends that the statements were extracted under oppressive conditions, violating the Evidence Act and the Anti-Torture Act.

Ojo argued that Emefiele was held incommunicado for 157 days and that the statements were obtained through coercion, which should bar them from being admitted as evidence. The prosecution, represented by Rotimi Oyedepo, maintained that the statements were not confessions and thus did not require a trial within a trial.

Justice Rahman Oshodi has reserved a ruling on the admissibility of the disputed statements until July 9, 2026, while the substantive trial is scheduled to continue on October 6-9, 2026.