An Ikeja Special Offences Court has set the 17th of April, 2026, for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial involving Henry Omoile, who is standing trial alongside former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Emefiele is being prosecuted on a 19-count charge that includes alleged gratification, corrupt demands and abuse of office connected to large-scale financial transactions.
Omoile, described as an associate of the former apex bank chief, is facing a separate three-count charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts while acting as an agent in transactions related to the CBN.
The prosecution claims the transactions in question involve sums estimated at 4.5 billion dollars and N2.8 billion, which it says represent significant violations of due process and trust.
During proceedings on Friday, the 6th of March, 2026, Justice Rahman Oshodi adjourned the matter after the cross-examination of Omoile and fixed the 17th of April for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial.
The judge directed both the prosecution and defence to file and exchange their written submissions from the 23rd of March ahead of the scheduled date.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial-within-trial was initiated to determine whether the statement Omoile made to investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was obtained voluntarily.
While being cross-examined by EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), Omoile told the court that EFCC operatives pressured him, threatened him and promised him freedom if he complied with their instructions.
According to him, he eventually made statements that were not true because investigators assured him that he would be released once he cooperated.
In response, Oyedepo informed the court that the EFCC had filed a counter-affidavit disputing the allegations raised by the defendant about the circumstances surrounding the statement.
He added that the defence team had yet to file a response to the affidavit.
However, counsel to Omoile, Mr Adeyinka Kotoye (SAN), disagreed with the prosecution’s position. He argued that the key issue before the court was whether the defendant’s statement was made willingly.
Kotoye maintained that the defence objected because the defendant was allegedly subjected to threats, coercion and inducements while in EFCC custody.
NAN reports that during an earlier session of the trial-within-trial on the 15th of January, Omoile’s lawyer, Mr Nnamdi Ofia, accused EFCC investigators of trying to pressure the defendant into implicating Emefiele.
Ofia, who gave testimony during the proceedings, alleged that investigators promised his client bail and even suggested that he might not face charges if he provided incriminating evidence against the former CBN governor.
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He further told the court that the interrogation was conducted through a question-and-answer method, with investigators demanding what they described as “satisfactory” responses before Omoile was allowed to record them on his statement sheet.
According to him, some of the responses given by Omoile were rejected because they did not correspond with what investigators expected.
Ofia also alleged that the situation became tense during the session when he challenged the process, and he was eventually asked to leave the EFCC office by an officer identified as David.
During cross-examination, however, Ofia acknowledged that Omoile was cautioned in his presence before giving his statement and that he signed the caution form.
He also confirmed that he took part in the statement-taking session and knew that whatever his client wrote could be used against him in court.
Ofia further admitted that he did not submit any petition or complaint against the EFCC over the alleged conduct.
He also stated that a judge who earlier handled a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed on behalf of Omoile did not find the anti-graft agency guilty of any wrongdoing.
NAN reports that the adoption of final written addresses in the trial-within-trial has been scheduled for the 17th of April, 2026.