The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the sum of N100 million over charges bordering on alleged breach of national security.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while ruling on the bail application, imposed several stringent conditions for the former governor’s release.
The court ruled that the surety must reside in either the Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik 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 authenticated by a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.
The judge also ordered the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry.
As part of the bail conditions, El-Rufai was directed to deposit all valid international passports with the court.
The court additionally ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s department as well as a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
Justice Abdulmalik further ordered the former governor to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) on the last Friday of every month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the conclusion of the trial.
The judge warned that any violation of the bail terms would lead to the automatic revocation of the bail.
The court also directed El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
The ruling followed the arraignment of the former governor by the DSS on an amended five-count charge relating to alleged national security breaches.
The DSS had earlier arraigned El-Rufai on April 23 before the same court, where he pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During Monday’s proceedings, counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), informed the court that the prosecution had filed a further amended five-count charge on April 13 and sought to replace the earlier three-count charge.
One of the amended charges alleged that El-Rufai intentionally intercepted communications involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
According to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026, the alleged interception was said to have been admitted by El-Rufai during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026.
The prosecution argued that the alleged act contravened provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024.
Counsel to the defendant, Oluwole Iyamu (SAN), confirmed receipt of the amended charges and did not oppose the prosecution’s application to substitute the earlier counts.
The court subsequently struck out the previous three-count charge and read the amended five-count charge to El-Rufai, who again pleaded not guilty.
The defence also informed the court about a pending bail application filed on February 17, noting that a further affidavit initially missing from the court file had later been located during proceedings.
The DSS, however, informed the court that it was not opposing the bail application.
In addition, the defence filed an application seeking to quash the amended charges, while the prosecution urged the court to dismiss the application for lacking merit.
After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter for further hearing before delivering the bail ruling.
