A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some associates earmarked $600,000 to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries to frustrate an investigation.
Kayode, the prosecution’s first witness, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, Kaduna.
He told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations in which $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments.
According to the investigator, the discussions centred on efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation involving a company identified as Singularity.
Kayode named Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha; Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings.
He further alleged that the conversations indicated that Mustapha and Lawal were 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.
The witness said the discussions also involved plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode 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 against the former governor and have yet to be established by the court.
The hearing lasted nearly eight hours, from 12:26 pm to 8:18 pm, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
Defence challenges witness 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 not included in 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, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that his omission from the proof of evidence 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 an 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, and argued that the prosecution should have served the subpoena on the defence.
In his ruling, Justice Khobo acknowledged that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the omission did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine him.
The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed the witness to continue.
After Kayode submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that it had not received the document early enough to examine its contents.
The court ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.
Justice Khobo adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, following agreement by both parties.
El-Rufai arrives ahead of hearing
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing. 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 had been adjourned after El-Rufai was absent, following information that he had requested access to his personal physician to review medical test results.
The latest hearing also came days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his appeal challenging the state high court’s refusal to grant him bail.
In its October 9 judgment, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that El-Rufai had not established sufficient grounds for the court to intervene.
The former governor 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 commission over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than N423bn in public funds during his eight-year tenure.
El-Rufai 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.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
