By Sofiat Adenekan-Abdul
The alleged corruption trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai resumed on Wednesday at the Federal High Court in Kaduna, a day after an eight-hour hearing at the state high court.
On Tuesday, a forensic investigator with the State Security Service, Segun Kayode, alleged that El-Rufai and some associates planned to pay $600,000 to officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and intermediaries.
Kayode, the prosecution’s first witness, told the court that forensic audio recordings captured conversations about alleged efforts to frustrate an EFCC investigation into a company identified as Singularity.
He also alleged that the recordings contained discussions about liquidating the company in Nigeria and Mauritius and preventing an EFCC investigation.
El-Rufai’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), challenged the witness’s testimony, arguing that Kayode’s name and evidence summary did not appear in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
However, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) argued that Kayode’s status as a subpoenaed witness did not automatically make his testimony inadmissible.
The former governor faces allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office linked to his administration between 2015 and 2023.
The resumed hearing follows an October 9 Court of Appeal ruling that upheld the refusal of bail by the Kaduna State High Court. El-Rufai has been in ICPC custody since February 18, 2026.
