Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is facing fresh allegations following testimony by a forensic investigator who told a Kaduna State High Court that $600,000 was allegedly earmarked to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries to frustrate an investigation.
The allegation was made on Tuesday by Segun Kayode, a forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), while testifying as the first prosecution witness in the ongoing proceedings involving the former governor before Justice Darius Khobo in Kaduna.
According to the witness, the alleged sum comprised $500,000 and an additional $100,000. He told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations allegedly involving El-Rufai and some of his associates concerning efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
Kayode further alleged that the discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius. He also told the court that the recordings contained conversations about preventing the EFCC from investigating another company identified in reports as IHS, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
The witness reportedly mentioned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among individuals allegedly referred to in the recorded conversations. The claims formed part of the prosecution’s evidence presented before the court.
However, the allegations have not been established by a final judicial decision, and they should not be treated as proven facts.
During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged the testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of his expected evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence. He maintained that the omission could affect his client’s right to a fair hearing and adequate preparation for the defence.
Counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed to testify and that the omission did not automatically render his evidence inadmissible.
In its ruling, the court acknowledged that the witness’s details were absent from the proof of evidence but held that the omission did not automatically invalidate his testimony, provided the defence was given the opportunity to cross-examine him.
The court also directed the defence to obtain a certified true copy of the investigator’s findings, which had been admitted as an exhibit, to enable it to examine the document.
The proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, with about two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations. The case was adjourned until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
The latest development comes amid El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles over alleged financial misconduct linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023. He has denied wrongdoing in the cases against him and maintains that his prosecution is politically motivated.
The court proceedings are continuing, with the prosecution expected to present its evidence and the defence given the opportunity to challenge the allegations.