A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), Segun Kayode, has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some associates planned to pay 600-thousand dollars to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries to frustrate an investigation.
Kayode, the first prosecution witness in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial, made the allegation on Tuesday, October 13, before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo.
Testifying before Justice Darius Khobo, the investigator said 500-thousand dollars was allegedly earmarked for EFCC officials, while another 100-thousand dollars was intended for an intermediary.
He told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations allegedly involving El-Rufai and some associates about efforts to halt an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
According to the witness, the discussions also allegedly included plans to liquidate the company’s operations in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
The testimony further mentioned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bashir El-Rufai and another individual in connection with the alleged arrangement. Kayode also claimed that the recordings contained discussions about obtaining a template previously used to liquidate another company.
However, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, challenged the admissibility of the testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence. He said the omission affected the defence’s preparation and his client’s right to a fair hearing.
Counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, argued that the witness had been subpoenaed by the court and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that the witness’s details were missing from the proof of evidence but held that his testimony could be admitted, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine him.
The court also directed that the defence be given access to a certified true copy of the forensic report admitted as Exhibit One.
Proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations. Journalists were reportedly barred from entering the courtroom.
El-Rufai appeared in court following an order directing the ICPC to produce him for the hearing. He was accompanied by Isah Ashiru, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Kaduna State.
The 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.
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The former governor has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration between 2015 and 2023.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of proceedings and cross-examination.
The allegations against El-Rufai and the other individuals mentioned in the testimony have yet to be established in court.
