Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has been granted N100 million bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja in connection with allegations of breaching national security laws.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the bail on Monday after the Department of State Services (DSS) indicated that it would not oppose the application submitted by defence counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ordered El-Rufai to produce one surety in like sum who must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro areas of Abuja.
The surety is required to submit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry and must be a federal civil servant on Grade Level 17 or above.
The court further directed that the surety provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months, authenticated by a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Abdulmalik also ordered the surety to file an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond and submit a recent passport photograph.
El-Rufai was instructed to surrender all valid international passports to the court registrar and provide a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
The court additionally ordered the surety to present a departmental verification letter and a tax clearance certificate covering the previous six months.
Pending the determination of the case, the former governor is expected to report to the DSS headquarters every last Friday of the month at 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register.
The judge warned that any breach of the bail conditions would lead to an automatic cancellation of the bail.
Justice Abdulmalik also directed that the matter proceed on an accelerated basis and fixed the commencement of trial for later the same day.
The DSS, in an amended five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026, accused El-Rufai of intercepting telephone conversations associated with the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai, who appeared before the court on 23 April, pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Prior to the bail decision, the court had remanded him in DSS custody after he was brought from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) in relation to a separate case.
