BREAKING: Emefiele’s Trial-Within-Trial Adjourned To Jan 16! ⚖️🔥

A Special Offences Court in Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday adjourned the trial-within-trial in the ongoing criminal case involving former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Godwin Emefiele to Friday, January 16, 2026.

Justice Rahman Oshodi set the new date after hearing further testimony from defence witness Nnamdi Offia, who was cross-examined by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN).

During cross-examination, Offia admitted that Emefiele was cautioned in his presence during interrogation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and that he signed the cautionary statement. He also confirmed his participation in the statement-taking process and acknowledged that the content could be used against Emefiele in court.

Offia stated he did not file any formal complaint against the EFCC regarding its conduct. He further said the judge in a related fundamental rights suit found no evidence of misconduct by the EFCC and that Emefiele was not harassed in his presence.

Earlier, Offia had testified that an EFCC official, identified as Omoile, allegedly told Emefiele he could be granted bail or might avoid charges if he cooperated by providing information against the first defendant. He said the interrogation was conducted in a question-and-answer format, and Emefiele was only allowed to write answers that matched the investigators’ expectations, despite his repeated objections.

Offia recounted that on February 26, 2024, the interrogation ended with investigators stating Emefiele would remain detained, and on February 27, 2024, he discovered that his client was being interrogated in his absence. When he raised concerns, an EFCC officer, David, challenged his right to intervene, resulting in Offia being escorted out of the premises and asked to wait. He was only allowed to see Emefiele around 8 pm before the former CBN governor was returned to detention.

According to Offia, the EFCC later informed him that Emefiele had refused to cooperate and would not be released, prompting him to apply for bail from the EFCC zonal head. Emefiele was detained for 21 days before filing a fundamental rights suit at the Federal High Court, Lagos. Justice Muslim Hassan subsequently granted bail but ordered him remanded at Ikoyi Correctional Centre pending the perfection of bail conditions.

After hearing the testimony, Justice Oshodi adjourned the trial-within-trial to January 16, 2026, for continuation.