El-Rufai trial: DSS investigator alleges $600,000 plan to frustrate EFCC probe

A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS) has alleged that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some of his associates earmarked $600,000 to influence officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries.
Segun Kayode made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying as the first prosecution witness before Justice Darius Khobo of the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo.
Kayode told the court that forensic audio recordings allegedly captured discussions involving El-Rufai and his associates about setting aside $500,000 and $100,000 to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
According to the investigator, the conversations mentioned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, another individual and Bashir El-Rufai.
He alleged that some individuals were directed to meet Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with plans to adopt a similar procedure for Singularity.
The witness further claimed that discussions included plans to liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit.
The allegations have not been established by the court.
Proceedings lasted nearly eight hours, with approximately two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations.
Earlier, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged the witness’s testimony, arguing that his name and summary of evidence were absent from the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
Erokoro maintained that the omission undermined the former governor’s right to a fair hearing.
However, prosecution counsel Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN) argued that Kayode had been subpoenaed by the court and that the defence would have an opportunity to cross-examine him.
Justice Khobo ruled that the omission did not automatically render the testimony inadmissible, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine the witness.
The court also permitted the defence to obtain a certified true copy of the investigator’s findings, admitted as Exhibit One.
The case was adjourned until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
El-Rufai’s appearance followed an October 9 Court of Appeal judgment upholding the refusal of his bail application.
The former governor has remained in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct relating to his administration between 2015 and 2023.