Court Admits Omoil's Statement in Emefiele Trial

The Lagos State Special Offences Court, presided over by Justice Rahman Oshodi, admitted an extra-judicial statement made by Henri Omoil, a co-defendant of former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Emefiele, during proceedings on May 4, 2026. The court ruled that the statement made on February 26, 2024, was obtained voluntarily and thus admissible as evidence.

However, a subsequent statement dated February 27, 2024, was not admitted due to the absence of legal representation during its taking and lack of video recording. The trial, which commenced in December 2025, involves Omoil facing three counts related to unlawfully accepting gifts, while Emefiele stands trial on 19 counts filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) regarding allegations of corrupt demands.

Both defendants have pleaded not guilty. The case has been adjourned to June 26, June 30, July 6, and July 8, 2026, for further proceedings.