DSS Witness Alleges El-Rufai EFCC Bribe Plan

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 pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries.

Kayode, the first prosecution witness, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.

The witness told the court that $500,000 and $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. According to Kayode, the discussions centred on alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.

He named Senior Advocate of Nigeria AU Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recordings. Kayode further alleged that Mustapha and Lawal were directed to meet a man identified as Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company. He said they intended to apply a similar process to Singularity.

The investigator also alleged that the conversations included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

He told the court that the recordings also contained discussions about preventing the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he said was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The allegations formed 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, saying 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), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.

Adedipe told the court that the subpoena was issued and signed on June 30, 2026, adding that the defence would have an opportunity to cross-examine the witness.

The prosecution counsel also cited judicial authorities in support of his position.

In response, Erokoro maintained that the issue was not whether Kayode could testify, but whether the defence had received adequate notice to prepare for his evidence.

He relied on Section 210 of the 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 Kayode’s name and summary of evidence were absent from the proof of evidence but noted that the records showed he had been subpoenaed.

Justice Khobo held that the omission did not automatically render the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence could cross-examine the witness.

The judge consequently overruled the objection and directed Kayode to continue his testimony.

After the investigator submitted a hard copy of his findings to the court clerk, the defence objected that the document should have been provided earlier to allow it to study its contents.

The judge 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, to continue 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 hearing resumed days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed El-Rufai’s appeal challenging the state high court’s refusal of bail.

In its judgment delivered on October 9, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s decision, ruling that the former governor had not established sufficient grounds to justify overturning 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 ₦423 billion in public funds during his eight-year administration.

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 subject to judicial determination.