Court Grants El-Rufai N100m Bail In DSS Security Breach Case

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of N100 million in an ongoing case involving alleged national security violations.

El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over allegations linked to the unlawful interception of communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

Delivering ruling on the bail application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik imposed several conditions that must be met before the bail can take effect.

The court ordered that the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja and provide the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry.

The judge also ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant on Grade Level 17 or higher and submit evidence of salary payments for the last three months, alongside authentication from a branch bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.

Other conditions require the surety to swear to an affidavit of means, sign a bail bond and provide a recent passport photograph.

El-Rufai was further directed to surrender all valid international passports to the court.

The court additionally ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s department as well as a six-month tax clearance certificate.

Justice Abdulmalik also directed the former governor to report to DSS headquarters on the last Friday of every month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the conclusion of the trial.

The judge warned that any violation of the bail conditions would result in immediate revocation of the bail.

The court also requested a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council and ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.