Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some associates had earmarked $600,000 to settle Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officials and intermediaries, Segun Kayode, a forensic investigator with the State Security Service, alleged on Tuesday.
Kayode, who is the first prosecution witness in the ongoing trial, made the allegation while giving evidence before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, Kaduna, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.
The witness stated that $500,000 and $100,000 had allegedly been allocated for the payments, adding that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his suspected associates.
He said the recorded conversations focused on alleged attempts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company known as Singularity.
Kayode identified Senior Advocate of Nigeria AU Mustapha (SAN), Jimi Lawal, and Bashir El-Rufai as among those allegedly involved in the conversations.
He told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly instructed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to secure a template previously used to liquidate another company, with the aim of applying a similar procedure to Singularity.
The investigator also alleged that the discussions covered plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly being investigated by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Kayode further alleged that the recordings included discussions about stopping the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The prosecution presented the allegations as part of its evidence against the former governor.
The proceedings continued for almost eight hours, from 12:26 pm until 8:18 pm, while approximately two hours were spent playing the recorded conversations.
Earlier, Paul Erokoro (SAN), El-Rufai’s lead counsel, objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the prosecution’s proof of evidence did not contain the witness’s name or a summary of his evidence.
Erokoro contended that the omission violated his client’s right to a fair hearing, maintaining that the defense was entitled to know the evidence it would be required to answer.
However, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, told the court that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the omission did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe stated that the subpoena had been issued and signed by the court on June 30, 2026, adding that the defense would be able to cross-examine the witness.
The prosecution counsel also referred to judicial authorities to support his position.
Responding, Erokoro maintained that the question was not whether the witness was permitted to testify, but whether the defense had received sufficient notice to prepare for his evidence.
He invoked Section 210 of the applicable Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, arguing that the prosecution ought to have served the subpoena on the defense.
In its ruling, the court recognized that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were missing from the proof of evidence but found that the records confirmed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not by itself render the testimony inadmissible, as long as the defense was given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness.
The judge therefore dismissed the objection and instructed Kayode to proceed with his testimony.
After the witness filed a hard copy of his findings with the court clerk, the defense objected that the document ought to have been served earlier to give it time to examine its contents.
In its October 9 judgment, the appellate court affirmed the lower court’s decision, holding that the former governor had not shown sufficient grounds to justify overturning the denial of bail.
El-Rufai has remained in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct connected to his administration of Kaduna State from 2015 to 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 tenure.
The former governor is contesting several cases before different courts involving allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud, and other financial offenses.
He has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges. The allegations are still subject to judicial determination.
