By Francis Wilfred
The trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, resumed on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, with the prosecution calling video evidence to counter claims that her statements to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) were obtained under duress.
Testifying in a trial-within-trial convened to determine the admissibility of the statements, the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Hamma Adama Bello, an operative of the EFCC, told the court that Oyo-Ita voluntarily wrote her statements after being duly cautioned and informed of her rights.
The trial-within-trial followed Oyo-Ita’s mid-trial objection in which she alleged that statements she made during EFCC investigations were coerced. The prosecution, led by H. M. Mohammed, initiated the subsidiary proceedings to establish voluntariness, a prerequisite for admissibility under Nigerian law.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, Bello testified that the former Head of Service was neither intimidated nor harassed while making her statements. He added that she was expressly informed of her right to legal representation and told she could pause the process until her lawyer arrived or invite counsel to witness the statement-taking.
With the court’s permission, the prosecution played a video recording of the statement-taking process. In the footage, Bello identified himself, another EFCC officer, Rukkayya, and Oyo-Ita. He noted that the defendant appeared calm and composed, showing no signs of stress. The video was admitted into evidence without objection from defence counsel.
During cross-examination, counsel to the first, second and third defendants, Michael Olawale, queried Bello on whether Oyo-Ita was granted bail and the identity of her surety. The witness said he could not immediately recall the surety’s identity but would do so upon reviewing the case file.
Counsel to the seventh defendant, Okechukwu Ajanwa, SAN, also questioned Bello on whether he interviewed the seventh defendant, Ugbong Okon Effiok. Bello answered in the affirmative but explained that he could not recall why that interview was not video-recorded, adding that he was part of a larger investigative team.
With no further questions from the defence and no re-examination by the prosecution, Justice Omotosho discharged the witness. Counsel to the first defendant then applied for an adjournment to enable the defence to open its case in the trial-within-trial.
Justice Omotosho adjourned proceedings to Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
Oyo-Ita is standing trial alongside her special assistants Garba Umar (fourth defendant) and Ugbong Okon Effiok (seventh defendant), as well as six companies: Frontline Ace Global Services Limited, Asanaya Projects Limited, Slopes International Limited, U and U Global Services Ltd, Prince Mega Logistics Ltd, and Good Deal Investments. The defendants face an 18-count charge bordering on alleged misappropriation of public funds, official corruption, money laundering, and criminal diversion of funds amounting to over ₦3 billion.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty, and the charges remain allegations until proven by the court.
