Emefiele: Court fixes April 17 for adoption of addresses in trial-within-trial

‎An Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday fixed April 17 for the adoption of final addresses in a trial-within-trial involving Henry Omoile, co-defendant with former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, governor, Godwin Emefiele.

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‎Emefiele is standing trial on a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office linked to large financial transactions.

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‎Omoile, his associate, faces a three-count charge relating to the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts while acting as an agent in transactions tied to the CBN.

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‎The charges involve alleged dealings estimated at 4.5 billion dollars and N2.8 billion, which the prosecution says reflect serious breaches of trust and procedure.

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‎On Friday, Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the case for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial, following the cross-examination of Omoile.

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‎Oshodi directed both parties to file and exchange their written addresses from March 23, ahead of the adoption date.

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‎The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial-within-trial was instituted to determine the voluntariness of the statement obtained from Omoile during interrogation by EFCC investigators.

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‎During cross-examination by EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Omoile alleged that he was coerced, threatened and promised freedom if he complied with directives from EFCC operatives.

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‎He told the court that he eventually made false statements due to assurances from investigators that he would be released if he cooperated with them.

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‎Oyedepo informed the court that the anti-graft agency had filed a counter-affidavit challenging the claims made by the defendant regarding the alleged coercion.

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‎However, he said the defence had yet to respond to the affidavit.

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‎Counsel to Omoile, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), objected to the prosecution’s position on the grounds that the central issue before the court was whether the statement was made voluntarily.

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‎He maintained that the defence’s objection was based on allegations that the defendant was subjected to threats, coercion and inducements while in the custody of the anti-graft agency.

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‎NAN reports that Omoile’s lawyer, Mr Nnamdi Ofia, had in the trial-within-trial on Jan. 15 accused the EFCC of attempting to put pressure on the defendant to implicate Emefiele during interrogation.

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‎Ofia, who testified during the trial-within-trial, alleged that investigators promised Omoile bail and the possibility of not being charged if he provided incriminating evidence against Emefiele.

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‎He told the court that investigators had conducted the interrogation in a question-and-answer format and insisted that Omoile provide “satisfactory” responses before allowing him to write them on his statement sheet.

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‎According to Ofia, some answers given by his client were rejected because they did not align with what investigators wanted.

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‎He further alleged that tensions escalated during the interrogation when he questioned the process and was eventually asked to leave the EFCC premises by an officer identified as David.

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‎However, under cross-examination, Ofia admitted that Omoile was cautioned in his presence before making his statement and that he signed the caution form.

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‎He also acknowledged that he participated in the statement-taking process and was aware that whatever his client wrote could be used against him in court.

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‎Ofia further admitted that he did not file any petition or complaint against the EFCC over the alleged misconduct.

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‎He also said that the judge who earlier heard a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on behalf of Omoile did not find the anti-graft agency guilty of wrongdoing.

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‎NAN reports that final addresses in the trial-within-trial will be adopted on April 17.

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