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 influence officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries.
Kayode made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying as the first prosecution witness in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial before the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo.
The investigator told the court that $500,000 and another $100,000 were allegedly set aside for the payments.
He said forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates about efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
According to Kayode, those mentioned in the recorded conversations included a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha; Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai.
The witness further alleged 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.
He said the discussions also covered 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 said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to the witness’s testimony, arguing that Kayode’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 and affected the defence’s ability to prepare for the case.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed by the court and that the omission did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
In his ruling, Justice Darius Khobo acknowledged that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine him.
The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed the witness to continue his testimony.
The defence later complained that it had not received a hard copy of the investigator’s findings early enough to examine the document. The court ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document admitted as an exhibit.
The case was adjourned until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, is facing investigations and legal proceedings over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.
