The first defence witness, DW1, Winifred Oyo-Ita, former Head of Service of the Federation, on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, while testifying in the trial-within-trial involving her, admitted before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, that she was cautioned by investigators of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC before writing her statements in the Commission’s office.
Oyo-Ita is standing trial alongside her special assistants Garba Umar (4th defendant), Ugbong Okon Effiok (7th defendant) and 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. They are facing an 18-count charge bordering on misappropriation of funds, official corruption, money laundering, and criminal diversion of funds to the tune of over ₦3 billion.
The defendant midstream into her trial, swung round and claimed that her statements were obtained under duress in the Commission, prompting the trial-within-trial to determine their admissibility.
At Thursday’s proceedings, Oyo-Ita, while being cross-examined by prosecution counsel, H. M Mohammed confirmed that the “words of caution” was read to her which she signed before taking her statements.
According to her statement of August 10, 2019, “I Winifred Oyo-Ita having been duly cautioned in English Language that I am not obliged to say anything unless I wish to do so but what I say shall be taken down in writing and may be given as evidence. I have been reminded of my right to have a counsel present but I chose to continue without counsel.”
Even with this, she claimed in court that though she wrote out of her free will, she was forced to sign her statements. She pleaded with the court to reject the three different statements she wrote, claiming that they were not written voluntarily.
She stated that Professor Tahir Mamman, a former Vice Chancellor of Baze University, who was her surety when she was granted administrative bail witnessed her writing of another statement on September 15, 2019.
It could be recalled that in the trial of Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the prosecution, with the permission of the court, played the video recording of Oyo-Ita’s statement-taking process in court, in which the First Prosecution Witness, PW1, Hamma Adama Bello, an investigator with the EFCC identified himself, another EFCC officer, Rukkayya, and Oyo-Ita, the first defendant in the video.
Oyo-Ita in the video, was seen to be calm and relaxed, and showing no signs of stress, while writing her statements. The prosecution witness further told the court that before the defendant wrote her statement, she was duly cautioned and informed of her right to have her lawyer present and was also told that she could stop writing until her lawyer arrived or invite her lawyer to witness the process.
The video evidence was admitted as exhibit without objection from the defence counsel.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till March 4, 2026 for adoption of addresses in the trial-within-trial.
