Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been accused of allegedly setting aside $600,000 to influence officials of Nigeria's Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries in an attempt to frustrate an ongoing investigation.
The allegation was made on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, by Segun Kayode, a forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), while testifying as the first prosecution witness in El-Rufai's ongoing trial before the Kaduna State High Court in Kawo.
According to the investigator, the money was allegedly divided into two portions, with $500,000 earmarked for certain payments and another $100,000 intended for an intermediary.
Kayode told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some of his alleged associates. He claimed the discussions centred on efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation involving a company identified as Singularity.
The witness also alleged that the conversations involved plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
Defence Challenges Investigator's Testimony
During the proceedings, El-Rufai's lead counsel, Paul Erokoro, challenged the admissibility of Kayode's testimony, arguing that the witness's name and summary of evidence had not been included in the prosecution's proof of evidence.
The defence maintained that the omission could undermine El-Rufai's right to a fair hearing by limiting his team's opportunity to prepare for the evidence being presented.
However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe, argued that Kayode had been summoned by the court and should be allowed to testify.
Justice Darius Khobo acknowledged that the witness's details were missing from the prosecution's documents but ruled that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was given an opportunity to cross-examine him.
The judge subsequently allowed the proceedings to continue.
Case Adjourned as Trial Continues
The court adjourned the matter until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination.
El-Rufai has been facing allegations of financial misconduct linked to his tenure as Kaduna State governor between 2015 and 2023. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
The latest allegations form part of the prosecution's evidence and have yet to be established by the court. The case remains ongoing, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
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