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El-Rufai Granted N100m Bail in Alleged National Security Breach Case
E-ISSN:2354-4481
By Wilson Orji
Former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja over allegations bordering on a breach of national security through alleged wiretapping activities.
Delivering a ruling on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted the former governor to bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum, pending the determination of the case before the court.
The court held that the surety must be a resident of either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja and must present the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry as part of the bail requirements.
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. The salary records, the court said, must be accompanied by an authentication letter issued by the manager of the bank handling the account within the court’s jurisdiction.
In addition, the surety is expected to depose to an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry. The court also directed that a verification letter from the surety’s department, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months, be provided.
As part of the conditions attached to the bail, El-Rufai was ordered to surrender all valid international passports to the court and seek judicial approval before embarking on any foreign trip.
The court equally directed the former governor 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 trial.
Justice Abdulmalik warned that any violation of the bail conditions would result in an automatic revocation of the bail granted to the defendant.
The court also ordered El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council as part of the conditions tied to his release.
Meanwhile, the trial judge directed that proceedings in the matter be accelerated to ensure speedy determination of the case.
