One investigator for State Security Service (SSS), Segun Kayode, tak say former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and some people wey dey work with am plan to use $600,000 settle officials of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and some middlemen.

Kayode, wey be the first witness wey prosecution call for the case, make dis allegation on Tuesday when e dey give evidence for Kaduna State High Court wey dey Kawo, Kaduna. Justice Darius Khobo na the judge wey dey handle the matter.

Di investigator tell court say dem allegedly keep $500,000 and another $100,000 for the payments. E add say recordings wey forensic experts examine capture conversations between El-Rufai and some people wey dem suspect say dey work with am.

According to Kayode, di conversations concern alleged plans to frustrate EFCC investigation into one company wey dem call Singularity.

E mention Senior Advocate of Nigeria, AU Mustapha; Jimi Lawal; and Bashir El-Rufai as some of di people wey dem allegedly mention for the recorded conversations.

Kayode tell court say Mustapha and Lawal allegedly receive instruction to meet one Ahmadu Sule to collect a method wey dem don use before to close down another company. According to am, dem allegedly plan to use the same method for Singularity.

Di investigator further allege say di discussion include plans to close down di company for Nigeria and Mauritius, where Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit reportedly dey investigate am.

Kayode also claim say some of di recorded conversations discuss how to stop EFCC from investigating IHS, a company wey e say dey listed for New York Stock Exchange. All these allegations form part of the evidence wey prosecution present against El-Rufai.

Di court sitting last almost eight hours, from 12:26 in the afternoon reach 8:18 for night. About two hours na dem use to play di recorded conversations for court.

Before Kayode begin give evidence, El-Rufai lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), object to am testifying. E argue say di prosecution no include di witness name and summary of wetin e go talk inside the proof of evidence wey dem submit.

Erokoro say dis omission fit affect im client right to fair hearing because di defence suppose know di evidence wey dem need prepare to answer.

But lawyer for Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN), tell court say dem summon Kayode through subpoena, and di fact say dem no include im name for the earlier document no automatically mean say e no fit testify.

Adedipe explain say court issue and sign di subpoena on June 30, 2026. E add say El-Rufai defence go still get chance to question di witness during cross-examination.

Erokoro maintain say di main issue no be whether Kayode fit testify, but whether di defence receive enough information to prepare for im evidence. E refer to Section 210 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2017, and argue say prosecution suppose serve di subpoena on the defence.

For im ruling, Justice Khobo agree say di witness name and summary of evidence no dey inside di proof of evidence. However, e say court records show say dem summon Kayode through subpoena.

Di judge rule say di omission no automatically make di testimony invalid, as long as di defence get chance to cross-examine di witness. E therefore reject di objection and direct Kayode to continue im evidence.

After Kayode submit hard copy of im findings to court clerk, di defence complain say dem suppose receive di document earlier so dem fit study am. But di judge rule say dem fit collect certified true copy of di document wey court admit as Exhibit One.

Di court adjourn di case till November 30 and December 1, 2026, to continue cross-examination. Both prosecution and defence agree to di dates.

El-Rufai arrive court around 11:50 in the morning, before di hearing wey dem schedule for noon. Security tight around di court, and e come with Isa Ashiru, wey be African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate for Kaduna State.

Im appearance follow court order wey direct ICPC to bring am for di resumed hearing. Di previous sitting end with adjournment on Monday after El-Rufai no show up. Information wey reach court at di time say e request access to im personal doctor to review medical test results.

Di resumed hearing come days after Court of Appeal for Kaduna dismiss El-Rufai appeal against di state high court decision to deny am bail.

For judgment wey dem deliver on October 9, di appeal court uphold di lower court decision, saying El-Rufai no show enough reason for am to change di bail decision.

El-Rufai don dey ICPC custody since February 18, 2026, over allegations of financial misconduct linked to how e manage Kaduna State between 2015 and 2023.

Kaduna State House of Assembly earlier petition ICPC over alleged diversion and poor management of more than ₦423 billion public funds during im eight years as governor.

Di former governor dey face different court cases over allegations wey include money laundering, abuse of office, fraud and other financial offences. El-Rufai don deny say e do wrong and plead not guilty to di charges. Di allegations never get final judgment, and na court go determine di matter.