ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted N100 million bail to the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, who is standing trial over allegations of unlawful interception of the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Delivering ruling on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the defendant must meet stringent bail conditions, including producing a surety who must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17.
The court further ordered that the surety must reside within Maitama or Asokoro districts in Abuja and provide the original Certificate of Occupancy for a landed property valued not less than the bail sum.
It also directed that the surety must submit evidence of salary payment for at least three months, accompanied by a bank verification letter, affidavit of means, recent passport photograph, tax clearance certificate covering six months, and a letter of attestation from the relevant department.
In addition, the court ordered El-Rufai to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed that the former governor must report to the Department of State Services (DSS) headquarters in Abuja on the last Friday of every month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the conclusion of the case.
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The judge warned that any breach of the bail conditions would lead to its immediate revocation.
The court also ordered accelerated hearing of the matter.
El-Rufai, who governed Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is facing a five-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026.
The Department of State Services (DSS) alleged that he was involved in the unlawful interception of the NSA’s telephone communications alongside others currently at large.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai allegedly made admissions during a February 13 television appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme in Abuja, where he reportedly said he had knowledge of individuals involved in the alleged interception but failed to report them to security authorities.
The DSS said the alleged conduct contravenes provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act 2024, as well as the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
The agency further alleged that the actions attributed to the defendant raised national security concerns and created public apprehension over possible compromise of communications systems.
Although the prosecution initially filed a three-count charge, it was later amended with the court’s approval during proceedings.
El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing, arguing in his legal challenge that the charges are defective and that his comments during the television interview were misinterpreted and should not be treated as a confession.
He maintained that statements made during media appearances cannot be regarded as confessional statements under law unless obtained under proper caution and legal procedure.
The case continues before the Federal High Court in Abuja.