BREAKING: Nasir El-Rufai Granted N100m bail With Tough Conditions
Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai has been granted bail in the sum of N100 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja following his arraignment in a high-profile national security-related case involving alleged unauthorised access to a telephone conversation linked to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik on Monday, has sparked intense political and legal conversations across Nigeria, especially due to the strict bail conditions attached to the former governor’s release.
El-Rufai, who pleaded not guilty to the five-count amended charge filed against him, is currently facing allegations tied to the alleged interception of a private phone conversation involving Ribadu. The development comes months after the former governor publicly claimed during a television interview that security operatives planned to arrest him based on information allegedly obtained through intercepted communications.
Why the Court Granted El-Rufai Bail
According to court proceedings, Justice Abdulmalik ruled that El-Rufai could remain out of custody pending trial, provided he fulfils a series of stringent requirements designed to guarantee his appearance in court and prevent interference with investigations.
The court ordered the former governor to provide one surety in like sum of N100 million. The surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry.
In addition, the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months. The evidence must also be verified by a bank manager operating within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed the surety to submit an affidavit of means, tax clearance certificate covering the last six months, a recent passport photograph, and an official verification letter from the surety’s department.
One of the most notable conditions imposed by the court is the mandatory surrender of all valid international passports belonging to El-Rufai.
Legal analysts say this condition effectively restricts the former governor from travelling abroad without court approval while the trial remains ongoing.
The court also ordered El-Rufai to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the conclusion of the case.
Justice Abdulmalik warned that failure to comply with any of the bail conditions would lead to an automatic revocation of the bail arrangement.
