El-Rufai earmarked $600,000 to settle EFCC officers – DSS witness alleges

A Department of State Services forensic investigator has alleged in courtroom that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and a few associates earmarked $600,000 for funds to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission officers and intermediaries.

Segun Kayode, the primary prosecution witness in El-Rufai’s ongoing trial, made the allegation on Tuesday earlier than Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo.

Kayode mentioned forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving the previous governor and suspected associates about efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into an organization recognized as Singularity. He alleged that separate sums of $500,000 and $100,000 have been put aside for the funds. The allegations type a part of the prosecution’s case and haven’t been established by the courtroom. According to Kayode, the conversations talked about a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, one other particular person and Bashir El-Rufai.

He alleged that the senior lawyer and the opposite particular person have been directed to satisfy Ahmadu Sule to acquire a template beforehand used to liquidate one other firm, with plans to use the same course of to Singularity. The witness mentioned the discussions included proposals to liquidate Singularity in Nigeria and Mauritius. He additionally referred to an investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and alleged discussions about stopping an EFCC inquiry into an organization he described as listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The listening to lasted practically eight hours, from 12:26 p.m. to eight:18 p.m., with roughly two hours spent enjoying the recordings. Earlier, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, objected to Kayode giving proof as a result of his title and a abstract of his testimony have been absent from the prosecution’s proof of proof. Erokoro argued that the omission affected his shopper’s proper to a good listening to, saying the defence wanted advance discover of the proof it might be required to reply.

Counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe, SAN, responded that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that the omission didn’t mechanically make his testimony inadmissible. Adedipe mentioned the courtroom issued and signed the subpoena on June 30, 2026, and that the defence would have a chance to cross-examine the witness.

Erokoro maintained that the dispute involved ample preparation reasonably than the witness’s eligibility to testify. Citing Section 210 of the relevant Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, he argued that the subpoena ought to have been served on the defence.

Justice Khobo acknowledged that Kayode’s title and proof abstract have been lacking from the proof of proof however dominated that courtroom information confirmed he had been subpoenaed. The choose held that the omission didn’t mechanically render the testimony inadmissible, offered the defence might cross-examine him.

After Kayode submitted a tough copy of his findings, the defence additionally complained that the doc ought to have been provided earlier for examination. The courtroom admitted it as Exhibit One and dominated that the defence might acquire a licensed true copy. Following settlement between either side, the case was adjourned till November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.

El-Rufai arrived on the courtroom at about 11:50 a.m. amid tight safety, accompanied by Isah Ashiru, the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State. His look adopted an order directing the ICPC to supply him for the resumed listening to. The proceedings got here days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna dismissed his problem to the excessive courtroom’s refusal of bail.

In its October 9 judgment, the appellate courtroom held that El-Rufai had not established enough grounds to overturn the choice. The former governor has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of monetary misconduct referring to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.