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 prosecution’s first witness, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
The investigator told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations allegedly involving El-Rufai and some of his associates concerning efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
According to Kayode, $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments. He also named Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings.
He further alleged that Mustapha and Lawal were directed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with a view to applying a similar process to Singularity.
The discussions, he said, also allegedly involved plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode further claimed that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he described as a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The allegations form part of the prosecution’s evidence in the ongoing proceedings against the former governor. They have not been established as facts by the court.
Defence challenges investigator’s testimony
El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged the admissibility of Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the investigator’s name and summary of evidence were missing from the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro said 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 for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed by the court and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe told the court that the subpoena was issued and signed on June 30, 2026, adding that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
Erokoro maintained that the issue was not simply whether Kayode could testify, but whether the defence had been given sufficient information to prepare its case. He cited Section 210 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, and argued that the subpoena should have been served on the defence.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo acknowledged that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence. However, he held that the omission did not automatically render the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness.
The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed Kayode to continue his testimony.
After the investigator submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence objected that the document should have been served earlier to allow adequate time for examination.
The judge ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One.
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.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
Bail appeal dismissed as financial misconduct case continues
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 Isa Ashiru, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State.
His appearance followed an order by Justice Khobo directing the ICPC to produce him in court for the resumed proceedings.
The previous sitting had been adjourned after the former governor failed to appear, following information that he had 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 against the refusal of bail by the state high court.
In a 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 justify intervention.
El-Rufai 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 petitioned the commission over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than ₦423 billion in public funds during his eight-year tenure.
The former governor faces 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.
