A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, has told a Kaduna State High Court that former governor Nasir El-Rufai and some associates allegedly discussed setting aside $600,000 to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries.
Kayode, who appeared as the prosecution’s first witness on Tuesday, gave the testimony during proceedings before Justice Darius Khobo at the court in Kawo, Kaduna. He said forensic audio recordings allegedly captured conversations about efforts to obstruct an EFCC investigation involving a company identified as Singularity.
According to the investigator, the alleged payments comprised $500,000 and $100,000. He identified a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha; Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings.
Kayode further told the court that Mustapha and Lawal were allegedly instructed to meet one Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company. The proposed arrangement, he said, was intended to facilitate a similar process involving Singularity.
The witness also alleged that the discussions covered plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
He 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. The hearing lasted from 12:26 pm to 8:18 pm, with approximately two hours spent playing the audio recordings in court.
However, the testimony was preceded by an objection from El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), who challenged the prosecution’s decision to call Kayode without including his name and a summary of his evidence in the proof of evidence.
Erokoro argued that the omission compromised his client’s right to a fair hearing because the defence had not been adequately informed of the evidence it was expected to confront.
Responding, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), said Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the absence of his details from the prosecution’s proof of evidence did not automatically render his testimony inadmissible.
Adedipe told the court that the subpoena had been issued and signed by the court on June 30, 2026. He maintained that the defence could challenge the witness’s evidence through cross-examination and cited judicial authorities in support of his position.
Erokoro insisted that his objection concerned the defence’s opportunity to prepare adequately, rather than whether a subpoenaed witness could testify. He relied on Section 210 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, arguing that the subpoena should have been served on the defence.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were missing from the proof of evidence but held that the records confirmed he had been subpoenaed.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not automatically make the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was given the opportunity to cross-examine the witness. He subsequently dismissed the objection and directed Kayode to proceed.
After Kayode submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence raised another concern, arguing that the document should have been made available earlier to allow counsel to examine its contents.
The judge ruled that the defence could obtain a certified true copy of the document, admitted as Exhibit One, for review.
The court adjourned the matter until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination after both sides agreed to the dates.
El-Rufai arrived at the court premises at about 11:50 am, ahead of the scheduled noon hearing, amid tight security, according to THE PUNCH. He was accompanied by Isa Ashiru, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State.
His appearance followed an order directing the ICPC to produce him in court for the resumed proceedings. The previous sitting had been adjourned on Monday after the former governor failed to appear, following information that he had requested access to his personal physician to review medical test results.
The latest hearing came days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal against the state high court’s refusal to grant him bail. In a judgment delivered on October 9, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, finding that he had not established sufficient grounds for it to intervene.
El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct relating to his administration of Kaduna State from 2015 to 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.
The former governor faces 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 before the courts for determination.
