The trial of former Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja, continued on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, with the First Prosecution Witness, Hamma Adama Bello testifying with video evidence in a trial-within-trial that the defendant wrote her statements voluntarily and under caution in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The witness, an operative of the EFCC, testified as the prosecution sought to establish the voluntariness of the statements Oyo-Ita made to the Commission during investigations, which the defendant, midstream into her trial, swung round to claim that they were obtained from her under duress, prompting the trial-within-trial to determine their admissibility.
Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, H. M. Mohammed, the witness told the court that Oyo-Ita, the first defendant, wrote her statements freely and without any form of intimidation, harassment, or coercion while in the EFCC.
With the permission of the court, the prosecution played the video recording of the statement-taking process in court, in which the witness identified himself, another EFCC officer, Rukkayya, and the first defendant.
The witness pointed out that the first defendant, as could be seen in the video, was calm and relaxed and showed no signs of stress. He further explained 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 recording was admitted in evidence without the defence counsel’s objection.
During cross-examination, counsel to the first, second and third defendants, Michael Olawale, questioned the witness on whether Oyo-Ita was granted bail and the identity of her surety, to which the witness said he could not immediately recall who the surety was, but would remember when shown the case file.
Counsel to the 7th defendant, Okechukwu Ajanwa, SAN, also questioned the witness on whether he interviewed the 7th defendant, Ugbong Okon Effiok. Bello answered in the affirmative but explained that he could not recall why there was no video recording of that interview, noting that he was not the only member of the investigative team.
With no further questions from the defence and no re-examination by the prosecution, Justice Omotosho discharged the witness from the dock.
Counsel to the first defendant subsequently applied for an adjournment to enable the defence to open its case in the trial-within-trial.
Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter till Wednesday, January 21, 2026, for continuation of the trial-within-trial.
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.
