Court Grants El-Rufai N100m Bail in National Security Trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai bail in the sum of N100 million in his ongoing trial over allegations bordering on breach of national security.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the bail application on Monday after counsel to the Department of State Services, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the agency was not opposing the request filed by El-Rufai’s lawyer, Oluwole Iyamu.

The court imposed several stringent conditions for the bail, including the provision of one surety in like sum.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled 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 with the court registry.

The judge further directed 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 ruling, the salary evidence must be authenticated through a letter issued by the manager of a bank within the court’s jurisdiction.

The surety was also ordered to submit an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond and provide a recent passport photograph to the court registry.

In addition, El-Rufai was directed to surrender all valid international passports to the registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.

The court also ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s department as well as a tax clearance certificate covering the previous six months.

As part of the bail conditions, the former governor is expected to report to the headquarters of the DSS every last Friday of each month by 10am to sign an attendance register until the case is concluded.

Justice Abdulmalik warned that failure to comply with any of the conditions would lead to automatic revocation of the bail.

The judge additionally ordered El-Rufai to provide a letter of attestation from the chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.

The court subsequently ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter and scheduled commencement of trial proceedings for later on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that the DSS had filed a five-count amended charge against El-Rufai in suit number FHC/ABJ/99/2026.

The former governor was arraigned on April 23 over allegations that he intercepted telephone conversations linked to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Before the bail ruling, the court had ordered that the former governor be remanded in DSS custody after he was brought from the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in connection with a separate investigation.

The case has generated nationwide political attention because of El-Rufai’s prominence within Nigerian politics and his past role as one of the influential figures in the ruling APC.

Political analysts say the proceedings could further shape political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections, especially amid growing tensions among key figures within the governing party.