A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS) 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.
The allegation was presented on Tuesday by the investigator, Segun Kayode, who testified as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo.
Kayode told the court, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo, that $500,000 and another $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments.
According to the witness, forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates over alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
He alleged that the conversations mentioned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), another individual and Bashir El-Rufai.
The witness further told the court that the SAN and the other individual were allegedly directed 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.
Alleged Plans to Frustrate EFCC Investigation
Kayode also alleged that the recorded conversations included discussions about liquidating the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
He added that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating a company he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The allegations form part of the prosecution’s evidence and have yet to be established by the court.
Proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26 pm to 8:18 pm, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
El-Rufai’s Lawyer Challenges Witness Testimony
Earlier in the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro told the court that the omission undermined his client’s right to a fair hearing, insisting that the defence needed adequate notice of the evidence it was expected to answer.
However, counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode was a subpoenaed witness 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. He added that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Erokoro maintained that the issue was whether the defence had been adequately informed to prepare for the testimony. He cited Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, arguing that the prosecution should have served the subpoena on the defence.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the records showed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not automatically render the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness.
After Kayode submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that the document should have been served earlier to allow sufficient time for examination.
The judge ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, following agreement between the prosecution and defence.
El-Rufai Appears Under Tight Security
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, amid tight security. He was accompanied by the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isah Ashiru.
His appearance followed an order by Justice Khobo directing the ICPC to produce him in court for the resumed proceedings.
The 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 failed to establish sufficient grounds for overturning 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.
