Witness Reveals Alleged $600,000 Bribe Plan in El-Rufai Case

According to report by Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, a witness in the corruption trial of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has alleged that $600,000 was earmarked to bribe Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials and an intermediary to stop investigations into certain companies.

The allegation was made on Tuesday by Segun Kayode, a senior operative of the Department of State Services (DSS) and digital forensics examiner, before the Kaduna State High Court presided over by Justice Darius Khobo.

Kayode told the court that his team analysed telephone records and audio recordings obtained during investigations initiated following a request from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

According to him, the investigation examined communications involving El-Rufai and some associates, including Jimi Lawal, AU Mustafa, Ahmadu Sule and Sam Darwish.

Analysis of the records revealed repeated communications between El-Rufai, his elder brother, Bashir, and Darwish between October 25 and 28, 2025.

The witness said forensic examination indicated that an audio recording captured a telephone conversation between El-Rufai and his brother.

He explained that specialists transcribed and translated the recording from Hausa into English before conducting further voice and acoustic analyses.

Kayode alleged that the conversation involved plans to stop an EFCC investigation into Singularity and liquidate the company in Nigeria and Mauritius.

He also claimed that instructions were discussed to prevent investigations involving IHS.

He further alleged that $500,000 was intended for EFCC officials, while another $100,000 was allocated to an intermediary to halt the investigations.

However, these allegations have not been established as findings of the court.

El-Rufai’s counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN, challenged the admission of the forensic report, arguing that the defence had not received adequate notice of the evidence.

He described its introduction as an attempt to ambush the defendant and potentially undermine his right to a fair hearing.

Federal Government counsel Ayodeji Adedipe dismissed the objection, maintaining that it lacked legal grounds.

Justice Khobo overruled the defence’s objection, directing it to obtain the evidence through the court registry.

The proceedings lasted approximately nine hours before the case was adjourned until November 30 and December 1, 2026.

El-Rufai faces corruption and money-laundering charges filed by the ICPC. The allegations remain subject to judicial determination.

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