A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, 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.
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Kayode made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
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The investigator told the court that $500,000 and another $100,000 were allegedly allocated for the payments. He said forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates concerning efforts to obstruct an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
According to Kayode, the recordings mentioned Senior Advocate of Nigeria AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai.
He alleged that Mustapha and Lawal were instructed to meet an individual identified as Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company. The plan, he claimed, was to apply a similar process to Singularity.
The witness further alleged that the conversations covered plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode also claimed that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he identified as a company 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 pm to 8:18 pm, with approximately two hours spent playing the recorded conversations.
However, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged the investigator’s 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 compromised his client’s right to a fair hearing because the defence had not been adequately informed about the evidence it was expected to answer.
Counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), countered that Kayode had been subpoenaed to testify and that the absence of his details from the proof of evidence did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe told the court that the subpoena was issued and signed by the judge on June 30, 2026. He added that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness and cited judicial authorities in support of the prosecution’s position.
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Erokoro insisted that his objection concerned whether the defence had received adequate notice to prepare for the testimony, rather than the witness’s right to appear in court. He also relied on 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 Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were missing from the proof of evidence but noted that the records showed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo held that the omission did not automatically make the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness. The judge consequently dismissed the objection and directed Kayode to continue testifying.
After the investigator submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that the document should have been provided 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 for review.
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 arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, under 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 was absent, reportedly having requested access to his personal physician to review medical test results.
The hearing also followed a Court of Appeal judgment in Kaduna on October 9, which dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the state high court’s refusal to grant him bail. The appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that he had not established sufficient grounds for 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 is facing multiple cases involving allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and other financial offences. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges, which remain before the courts for determination.
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