EL-RUFAI ALLEGEDLY SET ASIDE $600,000 TO BRIBE EFCC OFFICIALS, DSS WITNESS TELLS COURT

By NaijaParrot October 14, 2026 

 KADUNA, NIGERIA — A forensic investigator with the Department of State Services (DSS), Segun Kayode, has told a Kaduna State High Court that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and some of his associates allegedly earmarked $600,000 to pay officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries. Kayode, the first prosecution witness in the ongoing case, made the allegation on Tuesday while testifying before Justice Darius Khobo at the Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo, Kaduna.

According to the investigator, the alleged $600,000 payment was divided into two amounts: $500,000 and $100,000. Kayode told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations involving El-Rufai and some individuals suspected of being his associates. He alleged that the discussions centred on efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation involving a company identified in court proceedings as Singularity. 

 The witness reportedly named Senior Advocate of Nigeria A.U. Mustapha, Jimi Lawal and Bashir El-Rufai among those allegedly mentioned in the recorded conversations. Kayode further alleged that Mustapha and Lawal were directed to meet an individual identified as Ahmadu Sule to obtain a template previously used to liquidate another company, with the intention of applying a similar process to Singularity. He also told the court that the recordings allegedly contained discussions about liquidating the company in Nigeria and Mauritius, where it was reportedly under investigation by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit. The investigator additionally alleged that the conversations included plans to prevent the EFCC from investigating another company, identified in reports as IHS, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. 

 During the proceedings, El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), objected to Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and summary of evidence were not included in the prosecution’s proof of evidence. The defence maintained that the omission affected its ability to prepare adequately and raised concerns about the former governor’s right to a fair hearing. However, counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), argued that the witness had been subpoenaed by the court and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible. Justice Khobo ruled that the witness could proceed with his testimony, provided the defence was allowed to cross-examine him. The judge also directed the defence to obtain a certified true copy of a document admitted as an exhibit so it could examine its contents. 

 The hearing lasted nearly eight hours, with approximately two hours devoted to playing the recorded conversations. The court adjourned the case until November 30 and December 1, 2026, for the continuation of cross-examination. El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 2026 over allegations of financial misconduct linked to his administration of Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023. He has denied wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to charges against him. 

 The allegations concerning the purported $600,000 payment were presented as part of the prosecution’s evidence and have not been established as facts by a court. The case will continue as the defence examines the witness’s testimony and the evidence presented by the prosecution. 

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