El-Rufai Trial: Witness Alleges $600,000 Bribe To Frustrate EFCC Probe

A forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and a few associates earmarked $600,000 to pay officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and intermediaries to frustrate an investigation.

Kayode, the prosecution’s first witness, made the allegation on Tuesday whereas testifying earlier than Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo, Kaduna.

He instructed the courtroom that forensic audio recordings captured conversations wherein $500,000 and $100,000 have been allegedly put aside for the funds.

According to the investigator, the discussions centred on efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation involving an organization recognized as Singularity.

Kayode named Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha; Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai amongst these allegedly talked about within the recordings.

He additional alleged that the conversations indicated that Mustapha and Lawal have been directed to fulfill one Ahmadu Sule to acquire a template beforehand used to liquidate one other firm, with the intention of making use of an identical course of to Singularity.

The witness stated the discussions additionally concerned plans to liquidate the corporate in Nigeria and Mauritius, the place it was reportedly below investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.

Kayode added that the recordings contained conversations about stopping the EFCC from investigating IHS, which he described as an organization listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

The allegations fashioned a part of the prosecution’s proof towards the previous governor and have but to be established by the courtroom.

The listening to lasted almost eight hours, from 12:26 pm to eight:18 pm, with about two hours dedicated to enjoying the recorded conversations.

Defence challenges witness testimony

Earlier, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s identify and abstract of proof weren’t included within the prosecution’s proof of proof.

Erokoro stated the omission undermined his shopper’s proper to a good listening to, insisting that the defence wanted ample discover of the proof it was anticipated to reply.

However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed and that his omission from the proof of proof didn’t robotically make his testimony inadmissible.

Adedipe instructed the courtroom that the subpoena was issued and signed on June 30, 2026, including that the defence would have a possibility to cross-examine the witness.

Erokoro maintained that the problem was whether or not the defence had been adequately knowledgeable to arrange for the testimony. He cited Section 210 of the relevant Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, and argued that the prosecution ought to have served the subpoena on the defence.

In his ruling, Justice Khobo acknowledged that Kayode’s identify and abstract of proof have been absent from the proof of proof however held that the omission didn’t robotically render his testimony inadmissible, supplied the defence was allowed to cross-examine him.

The choose consequently overruled the objection and directed the witness to proceed.

After Kayode submitted a tough copy of his findings to the courtroom clerk, the defence complained that it had not acquired the doc early sufficient to look at its contents.

The courtroom dominated that the defence may receive an authorized true copy of the doc admitted as Exhibit One for examination.

Justice Khobo adjourned the case till November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination, following settlement by each events.

El-Rufai arrives forward of listening to

El-Rufai arrived on the courtroom premises at about 11:50 am, forward of the scheduled midday listening to. He was accompanied by the African Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kaduna State, Isa Ashiru.

His look adopted an order by Justice Khobo directing the ICPC to provide him in courtroom for the resumed proceedings.

The earlier sitting had been adjourned after El-Rufai was absent, following info that he had requested entry to his private doctor to evaluation medical take a look at outcomes.