Justice Rahman Oshodi of an Ikeja Special Offences Court on Friday adjourned till May 4, 2026, to deliver a ruling on the admissibility of an extra-judicial statement made by Henry Omoile, a co-defendant in the trial of former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

The judge fixed the date for the ruling after counsel for both the prosecution and defence adopted their final written addresses in a trial-within-trial focused on whether the statement was voluntarily made.

Emefiele is facing a 19-count charge bordering on alleged gratification, corrupt demands, and abuse of office tied to financial transactions, while Omoile is standing trial on a three-count charge over the alleged unlawful acceptance of gifts in connection with CBN-related dealings.

The prosecution alleged that the transactions involved about $4.5bn and N2.8bn.

While arguing on behalf of the second defendant, Adeyinka Kotoye, (SAN), told the court that the crux of the matter is the voluntariness of the statement.

“The issue before this court is whether the statement credited to the second defendant was made voluntarily,” he said.

Kotoye argued that the process of obtaining the statement breached Sections 9(3) and (4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) and Sections 17(1) and (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).

“In situations where voluntariness is contested, video recording of the interrogation is essential. It is the most reliable way to establish compliance with due process,” he submitted.

He further faulted the prosecution for failing to provide independent evidence to support the alleged confessional statement and questioned the role of the lawyer said to have been present.

“The mere presence of a legal practitioner is not enough where that counsel was unable to effectively discharge his duty,” Kotoye argued, adding that the statement may have been influenced by coercion or inducement.

Counsel to the first defendant, Olalekan Ojo, (SAN), also urged the court to discountenance the statement.

“Any doubt regarding the voluntariness of a statement must be resolved in favour of the accused,” Ojo said.

Citing Section 29(2) of the Evidence Act, he added, “A statement obtained through oppression, inducement, or improper means is inadmissible, and the prosecution has failed to prove otherwise.”

He maintained that the burden rests on the prosecution once voluntariness is challenged.

“The prosecution has not discharged this burden, particularly in light of the circumstances surrounding the making of the statement,” he said, noting that key aspects of the defendant’s testimony were not challenged.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), urged the court to admit the statement in evidence.

“The first defendant’s counsel cannot challenge the admissibility of a statement he did not object to when it was tendered. That amounts to an abuse of court process,” Oyedepo argued.

He insisted that the statement was obtained in line with the law.

“Though the statement was not video-recorded, it was made in the presence of the second defendant’s counsel,” he said.

Oyedepo also pointed to the contents of the statement as evidence of its voluntariness.

“The second defendant refused to implicate the first defendant and denied committing the alleged offences. That clearly shows he was not under any form of duress,” he submitted.

He dismissed claims of intimidation, stressing that the process was transparent.

“The statement was taken in the presence of several individuals, and the defendant was duly cautioned and voluntarily signed the cautionary form,” he added.

Following the submissions, Justice Oshodi adjourned the matter for ruling on May 4, 2026, and fixed June 26 and June 30, 2026, for the continuation of the substantive trial.

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The Director-General of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), Dr Joseph Ochogwu, has called for the urgent adoption and implementation of Nigeria’s National Peace Policy, warning that the country’s worsening security challenges require a coordinated and institutionalised response.

Speaking at the Second High-Level Expert Dialogue on the draft National Peace Policy on Friday in Abuja, Ochogwu said peace in Nigeria is “not a luxury but a foundational imperative,” stressing that the time had come to move beyond rhetoric to concrete action.

He emphasised that words must yield to architecture, noting that good intentions must be backed by robust systems, institutionalised coordination, and a clearly defined roadmap for implementation.

Ochogwu described Nigeria as being at a “defining crossroads,” citing persistent insecurity across regions, including insurgency in the North-East, farmer-herder clashes in the North-Central, separatist tensions in the South-East, and widespread banditry and kidnapping in the North-West.

According to him, the situation demands more than isolated interventions.

“What is urgently needed is an overarching framework that coordinates efforts across all tiers of government and ensures measurable, people-centred outcomes,” he stated.

He explained that the proposed National Peace Policy was designed to address gaps in Nigeria’s peacebuilding efforts, lamenting the absence of a unified framework to harmonise interventions by government agencies, civil society organisations, and development partners.

“Nigeria currently lacks a coherent, nationally owned policy that harmonises the multiplicity of conflict prevention, management, and peacebuilding interventions.

“The result has been duplication, resource wastage, institutional rivalry, and communities that fall through the gaps,” he said.

Ochogwu added that the policy would provide legitimacy for an integrated peacebuilding system, making interventions less “ad hoc” and more accountable within Nigeria’s governance structure.

He further noted that the framework would enable evidence-based decision-making and shift the country’s approach from reactive crisis management to preventive and strategic peacebuilding.

“It transforms peacebuilding from a reactive, crisis-driven enterprise into a strategic, preventive, and developmental pursuit,” he stated.

Highlighting the importance of coordination, he said peacebuilding must be mainstreamed across key sectors such as security, justice, education, and economic planning, rather than treated as a standalone initiative.

“Integration means ensuring that peacebuilding is mainstreamed across all sectors. Coordination requires a central architecture that maps who is doing what, where, and with what resources,” he explained.

He also underscored Nigeria’s alignment with global and regional peace frameworks, noting that the policy reflects commitments under the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS systems.

On implementation, Ochogwu warned that dialogue alone would not suffice, urging stakeholders to take ownership of the process.

“Dialogue without implementation is mere eloquence. We are here to generate the political will and inter-institutional consensus that will carry this policy from formulation to implementation,” he said.

He called on participants to act as “co-architects of Nigeria’s peace,” warning against bureaucratic delays and institutional rivalry.

“The time for a unified, integrated, and credible National Peace Policy is not tomorrow. The time is now,” he added.

Ochogwu further noted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu had created a fresh opportunity to actualise the long-delayed policy, stressing the need to avoid past setbacks.

Describing the current peacebuilding landscape as fragmented, he warned that uncoordinated efforts had weakened impact.

“As we speak today, it’s a bit chaotic in terms of the approach. People are working in silos. The National Peace Policy provides an opportunity to harmonise all these efforts,” he added.

He also explained that the policy was being updated to reflect emerging threats such as banditry and climate change, noting that earlier frameworks no longer captured current realities.

“Society is dynamic; a lot of the things that were captured in 2012 have gone. Now we’re talking about issues around banditry, climate change, and several other new dynamics,” he said.

He disclosed that stakeholders were co-developing an implementation framework to be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval.

Beyond policy, the IPCR boss urged the political class to embrace issue-based politics ahead of future elections, warning against divisive rhetoric.

“We must stop divisive politics. Democracy is to serve the people and to promote peace, not to create division and, at the end of the day, promote violence,” he stated.

The draft National Peace Policy traces its origins to a 2012 initiative aimed at establishing a comprehensive framework for conflict prevention, management and peacebuilding in Nigeria.

However, the policy was not approved at the time, despite its broad objectives to address recurring inter-group conflicts, establish a National Peace Commission, and create sustainable “infrastructure for peace” involving both government institutions and civil society actors.

The renewed push for the policy comes amid growing security challenges and evolving conflict dynamics, which stakeholders say have outpaced the provisions of the original draft.

While the 2012 framework laid important groundwork, current realities have necessitated a review and update of the policy, which seeks not only to revive the stalled initiative but also to strengthen it into a more responsive and implementable national framework capable of addressing Nigeria’s complex, changing peace and security landscape.

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President Bola Tinubu has signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill into law, authorising an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion for the current fiscal year.

He also signed a separate bill extending the implementation period of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026.

The budget allocates ₦4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and ₦15.8 trillion for debt service.

It further sets aside ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent expenditure and ₦32.2 trillion for capital expenditure through the Development Fund.

The presidency made the disclosure in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga on Friday.

The statement read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the 2026 Appropriation Bill, which provides for an aggregate expenditure of ₦68.32 trillion. He has also signed the bill extending the implementation period for the 2025 budget from March 31, 2026, to June 30, 2026.

“The N68.32 trillion budget for this year earmarks N4.799 trillion for statutory transfers and N15.8 trillion for debt service. It allocates N15.4 trillion to recurrent expenditure and N32.2 trillion to the Development Fund for Capital Expenditure.

“With capital expenditure accounting for about 50 per cent, the 2026 budget underscores the administration’s continued commitment to economic stability, national security, infrastructure development, and inclusive growth.

“The allocations reflect a strategic balance between statutory obligations, debt servicing, recurrent expenditure, and capital investments critical to driving productivity and improving the quality of life for Nigerians,” it added.

The 2026 Appropriation Act took effect on April 1, with the Federal Government commencing full implementation in line with what the presidency describes as the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu also assented to the Appropriation (Repeal and Enactment) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which extends the capital component of the 2025 Appropriation Act by three months to June 30.

The presidency said the extension would ensure the full utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure projects at advanced stages of implementation.

“The extension will ensure the full and effective utilisation of appropriated funds, particularly for critical infrastructure and development projects that are at advanced stages of implementation across the country.

“It will enable Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to consolidate ongoing works, enhance project completion rates, and maximise value for public expenditure,” the statement read.

Tinubu directed MDAs to ensure disciplined, transparent, and efficient utilisation of allocated resources, with strong emphasis on value for money and timely project delivery.

He commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly for what the presidency described as their “diligence, cooperation, and patriotism in expeditiously considering and passing the budget.”

“The President reaffirmed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government in advancing national development objectives,” the statement noted.

Tinubu also assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms and boost revenue generation.

“He further assured Nigerians of his administration’s resolve to deepen fiscal reforms, enhance revenue generation, and prioritise investments that will stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and strengthen social protection mechanisms,” the statement read.

The budget, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” was originally presented to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 19, 2025, at a proposed sum of ₦58.47 trillion.

It passed second reading in the House of Representatives on January 29, 2026, before going through further legislative scrutiny and emerging at ₦68.32 trillion at the point of assent.

During the second reading debate in January, House Leader Julius Ihonvbere had urged lawmakers to support the proposal, pointing to a projected 3.98 per cent economic growth rate for 2026, a projected drop in inflation to 14.45 per cent, improved revenues, and foreign direct investment growth.

He also cited a stabilisation of the naira at around ₦1,400 to the dollar and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves to a seven-year high of approximately $47 billion.

When Tinubu presented the bill to lawmakers in December, he described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s reform journey, acknowledging the pressures the process had placed on households and businesses while insisting the sacrifices were necessary.

“The path of reform is seldom smooth, but it is the surest route to lasting stability and shared prosperity,” he told the joint session.

He vowed that 2026 would mark a decisive shift to stronger budget execution discipline, announcing an end to the long-standing practice of running overlapping budgets and perpetual rollovers.

The budget’s four stated objectives are consolidating macroeconomic stability, improving the business and investment environment, promoting job-rich growth, and strengthening human capital development while protecting the vulnerable.

Key sectoral allocations include ₦5.41 trillion for defence and security, ₦3.56 trillion for infrastructure, ₦3.52 trillion for education, and ₦2.48 trillion for health.

Minister of Information Mohammed Idris, writing in a January op-ed, described the budget as a commitment to consolidate what was working in the administration’s reform programme and ensure that shared prosperity became “a lived reality for more Nigerians, faster.”

He pointed to expanding business activity, improving investor confidence, easing inflation, and stronger external reserves as early indicators of progress, and highlighted ongoing infrastructure projects including the Coastal Highway, Sokoto–Badagry Expressway, and Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline as evidence of the administration’s delivery record.

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