A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), 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 made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing case against the former governor before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
According to the witness, the alleged amount comprised $500,000 and an additional $100,000. He told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some individuals suspected of being connected to him.
Kayode alleged that the conversations concerned efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
He named a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings.
The investigator further told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly instructed to meet an individual identified as Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company. According to his testimony, the intention was to use a similar process for Singularity.
Kayode also alleged that the discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit was reportedly investigating it.
He added that the recordings contained conversations about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he described as a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The allegations formed part of the prosecution’s evidence and have not been established as facts by the court. El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing in the cases against him, and the proceedings remain ongoing.
Tuesday’s hearing also featured a dispute over whether Kayode should be allowed to testify, with the defence challenging the circumstances surrounding his appearance as a prosecution witness.
El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, objected to the testimony, arguing that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro maintained that the omission affected his client’s right to a fair hearing because the defence needed adequate information about the evidence it would be required to answer.
He argued that the prosecution should have served the relevant subpoena on the defence in accordance with Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, opposed the objection.
Adedipe told the court that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the omission of his details from the proof of evidence did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible. He also argued that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the prosecution’s proof of evidence. However, Justice Khobo held that the omission did not automatically prevent the witness from testifying, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine him.
The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed Kayode to continue giving evidence.
A further disagreement arose after the investigator submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk. The defence complained that the document had not been served earlier, leaving its lawyers without sufficient time 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 proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26 pm to 8:18 pm, with approximately two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations presented by the prosecution.
The court adjourned the matter until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
El-Rufai appeared in court amid tight security after the judge directed the ICPC to produce him for the resumed proceedings. His appearance followed the dismissal of his bail appeal by the Court of Appeal in Kaduna on October 9.
The former governor has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct relating to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.
The Kaduna State House of Assembly had previously petitioned the ICPC over allegations involving the diversion and mismanagement of more than ₦423bn in public funds during his eight-year tenure.
El-Rufai is facing multiple legal proceedings involving allegations of financial misconduct and other offences. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
As the case continues, the prosecution’s allegations concerning the alleged $600,000 payment arrangement are expected to be tested through the judicial process. The defence will have the opportunity to challenge the witness’s testimony and the evidence presented in court.
The next proceedings will therefore be significant in determining how the court evaluates the investigator’s evidence and the objections raised by El-Rufai’s legal team.
