A Federal High Court granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-RufaiNasir El-Rufai on Monday. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling in the case involving alleged breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik admitted Nasir El-Rufai to bail in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum. The court heard arguments from both sides before reaching the decision. Prosecutors had opposed the application, but the judge ruled in favor of conditional release.
The court required the surety to reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja. Justice Abdulmalik ordered the surety to deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property at the court registry. Additionally, the surety must serve as a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months.
Nasir El-Rufai must deposit all his valid international passports with the court registry. Justice Abdulmalik directed him to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register. He also needs to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
The judge warned that failure to comply with any condition would lead to automatic revocation of the bail. Justice Abdulmalik further ordered an accelerated trial of the charges against the former governor. Nasir El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to the amended charges brought by the Department of State Services.
The charges relate to alleged knowledge of intercepted communications involving national security figures. This development came amid separate corruption cases handled by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission in other courts.
