A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services, Segun Kayode, on Tuesday alleged that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some of his associates earmarked $600,000 to settle officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries.
Kayode, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the allegation while testifying before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
The witness said $500,000 and $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments, adding that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates.
According to him, the recorded conversations centred on alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
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Kayode named a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha (SAN); Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the conversations.
He told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly 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 investigator further alleged that the discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode also alleged that the recordings contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
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The allegations were presented as 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 about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
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 argued that the omission undermined his client’s right to a fair hearing, insisting that the defence was entitled to know the evidence it was expected to answer.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), told the court that Kayode was a subpoenaed witness and that the omission did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe said the subpoena was issued and signed by the court on June 30, 2026, adding that the defence would have the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
The prosecution counsel also cited judicial authorities in support of his argument.
In his response, Erokoro maintained that the issue was not whether the witness could testify but whether the defence had been adequately informed to prepare for his evidence.
He relied on 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 its ruling, the court acknowledged that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the records showed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not automatically make 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 witness submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence complained that the document should have been served earlier to enable it to study the contents.
The judge, however, ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as Exhibit One for examination.
The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of the cross-examination, following agreement by the prosecution and defence.
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, amid tight security.
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 was adjourned on Monday after the former governor was absent 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 challenging the refusal of bail by the state high court.
In its judgment delivered on October 9, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that the former governor had failed to establish sufficient grounds to warrant interference with the refusal of bail.
El-Rufai 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 ICPC over the alleged diversion and mismanagement of more than N423bn in public funds during his eight-year administration.
The former governor is facing 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.
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