By Our Crime Reporter in Lagos
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Nigerian anti-fraud squad has savagely dismissed claims that a key ally of the disgraced former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) boss, Godwin Emefiele, was forced into confessing in the epic $4.5 billion corruption case rocking the nation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) hit back hard yesterday at the Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, after Emefiele’s co-defendant, Henry Omoile, claimed his statements were taken under DURESS.
Ex-CBN Governor Emefiele, 64, is facing 19 charges including receiving a staggering $4.5 billion in alleged ‘gratification,’ while Omoile is charged with unlawfully accepting massive gifts as an agent. Both men plead NOT GUILTY.
EFCC operative Alvan Gurumnaan told the court he was “surprised” by the claims, insisting his team are trained professionals who would NEVER use threat, violence, or intimidation.
He fired: “The second defendant did not make any statement under duress. Our officers do not force statements through violence.”
Gurumnaan, formerly of the elite Special Operations Unit, even detailed the cushy setting where Omoile spilled the beans—a spacious conference room in the EFCC’s Lagos office.
He added that Omoile wasn’t alone, arriving on February 26, 2024, with the Acting MD of NIBSS and his lawyer, Mr. E. N. Offiong.
The witness stressed: “EFCC operatives are trained to take statements without threat or duress. The statements were taken openly. There is no way we could have done that under threat.”
The explosive testimony comes after Omoile’s defence counsel, Kotoye Adeyinka (SAN), objected to the statements being used, forcing the judge, Justice Oshodi, to order a ‘trial-within-trial’ to check if the confessions were voluntary.
Gurumnaan confirmed that Omoile was cautioned before making four separate statements, all of which he signed, even writing: “I am making this statement in the presence of my lawyer, Offiong.”
However, under cross-examination, the EFCC agent had to admit a MAJOR FLAW: there was NO VIDEO RECORDING of Omoile’s statement, despite it being standard EFCC procedure. He lamely claimed certain circumstances made video impossible.
Justice Oshodi adjourned the high-stakes ‘mini-trial’ to Thursday, January 15, and Friday, January 16, 2026.
