El-Rufai Returns To Court As DSS Witness Alleges $600,000 Plot To Derail EFCC Probe

ICPC corruption trial resumes in Kaduna after former governor’s bail appeal was dismissed

By Henryrich Ojo | Newsworld

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai is expected back at the Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday as his corruption trial resumes, following an eight-hour court session at the Kaduna State High Court on Tuesday.

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During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) presented a Department of State Services (DSS) forensic investigator, Segun Kayode, who alleged that audio recordings captured discussions about setting aside $600,000 to derail an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation into a company identified as Singularity.

Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Kayode alleged that the money was divided into $500,000 and $100,000 and was intended to pay EFCC officials and intermediaries. He also claimed that the recordings captured discussions about obtaining a template previously used to wind up another company and applying a similar approach to Singularity, including alleged plans involving Nigeria and Mauritius.

The witness reportedly mentioned a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Bashir El-Rufai in connection with the conversations. These allegations form part of the prosecution’s case and have not been established as facts by the court.

El-Rufai’s lead counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged Kayode’s testimony, arguing that the witness’s name and a summary of his evidence were missing from the prosecution’s proof of evidence, thereby raising fair-hearing concerns. ICPC counsel Ayodeji Adedipe (SAN) countered that the witness had appeared under subpoena and that the omission did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.

The proceedings come days after the Court of Appeal in Kaduna, on October 9, upheld the lower court’s refusal to grant El-Rufai bail. 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.