A forensic investigator with the State Security Service (SSS), Segun Kayode, has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some of his associates earmarked $600,000 to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries.
Kayode, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
The investigator told the court that $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments. He said forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates concerning alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
Kayode named Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings.
According to the witness, Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly instructed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with the intention of applying a similar process to Singularity.
He further alleged that the discussions involved plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode also told the court that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The allegations formed part of the prosecution’s evidence against the former governor.
The proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26 p.m. to 8:18 p.m., with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
Defence Challenges Investigator’s Testimony
Earlier, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro said the omission undermined his client’s right to a fair hearing, arguing that the defence needed to know the evidence it was expected to answer.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), told the court that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe said the subpoena was issued and signed by the court on June 30, 2026, adding that the defence would have an opportunity to cross-examine the witness. He also cited judicial authorities in support of the prosecution’s position.
Erokoro maintained that the issue was not whether the witness could testify, but whether the defence had been adequately informed to prepare for his evidence. He relied on Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, and argued that the prosecution should have served the subpoena on the defence.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence. However, Justice Khobo held that the records showed the witness had been subpoenaed.
The judge ruled that the omission did not automatically render the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness. He consequently overruled the objection and directed Kayode to continue his testimony.
After the witness submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that the document should have been served earlier to allow it to examine its contents.
Justice Khobo ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, following agreement by the prosecution and defence.
El-Rufai’s Custody and Bail Appeal
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 a.m., ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, amid tight security. He was accompanied by the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru.
His appearance followed an order by Justice Khobo directing the ICPC to produce him in court for the resumed proceedings.
The previous sitting was adjourned on Monday after the former governor was absent. The court had been informed that he requested access to his personal physician to review medical test results.
The resumed hearing came days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the refusal of bail by the state high court.
In its judgment delivered on October 9, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that the former governor had not established sufficient grounds to warrant interference with the refusal of bail.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had petitioned the ICPC over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than ₦423bn in public funds during his eight-year administration.
The former governor is facing multiple cases involving allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and other financial offences before different courts.
He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
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