May 18, (THEWILL) — A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of ₦100 million, with one surety in like sum, while ordering him to report monthly to the headquarters of the Department of State Services pending the determination of criminal charges filed against him.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Monday, imposing a raft of stringent conditions the former governor must fulfil before perfecting the bail.
The court directed that the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property at the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months.
According to the court, the salary records must be authenticated through a letter issued by the manager of a bank operating within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge also ordered the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry as part of the conditions for the release of the defendant.
As part of measures to ensure his availability for trial, the court directed El-Rufai to deposit all valid international passports with the court registry pending the conclusion of the case.
The court additionally ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
In one of the major conditions attached to the bail, Justice Abdulmalik ordered the former governor to report to the DSS headquarters every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register throughout the duration of the trial.
The judge warned that failure to comply with any of the bail conditions would result in an automatic revocation of the bail.
The court also directed El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
El-Rufai is facing a five-count amended charge filed by the DSS over allegations linked to the unlawful interception of the National Security Adviser’s telephone communications and alleged failure to report the incident to security authorities.
According to the prosecution, the former governor, during a television interview on Arise TV, allegedly admitted having knowledge of individuals involved in monitoring the NSA’s communications, an act the DSS said contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The agency further accused him of collaborating with persons still at large in activities capable of compromising national security and public safety through the alleged interception of telephone communications, contrary to the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
El-Rufai has denied the allegations and challenged the competence of the charges before the court, insisting that remarks he made during the television interview were casual comments that could not legally amount to a confessional statement.
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