Court Grants El-Rufai N100m Bail in DSS Wiretapping Trial

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in the sum of N100 million, with one surety in the same amount, as his wiretapping trial moves forward.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court imposed a list of strict conditions that must be satisfied before the bail takes effect. The surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja, deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry, and must be a federal civil servant of Grade Level 17 or higher.

Stringent Conditions Attached

The surety must also provide proof of salary payments for at least three months, backed by an authentication letter from a branch bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction. A sworn affidavit of means, a signed bail bond, and a recent passport photograph are required.

The court further directed that a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department and a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months must be submitted. El-Rufai was ordered to surrender all valid international passports to the court and may only travel abroad with the court’s permission.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered El-Rufai to report to DSS headquarters on the last Friday of every month at 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register until the case is concluded. She warned that any breach would trigger immediate revocation of the bail. The judge also required a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council.

Background: The Wiretapping Admission

El-Rufai is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services for allegedly breaching national security. The case stems from his public admission on national television that he wiretapped the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. The DSS arraigned him on charges bordering on cybercrime and national security violations.

The former governor, known for his outspoken political positions, has been at the centre of legal battles since leaving office in 2023. His defection to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) added a political dimension to what the prosecution insists is purely a security matter.

Trial to Be Expedited

Beyond the bail ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered accelerated hearing of the case, signalling that the trial is expected to move quickly. Legal observers say the conditions attached to the bail are among the strictest seen in high-profile cases before the Federal High Court.

El-Rufai’s legal team had earlier argued that his continued detention was unnecessary given his cooperation with the legal process. The court’s decision grants him conditional freedom while the trial proceeds.

The case is a test of how far the Nigerian state will go in prosecuting a former governor for acts allegedly committed while in office or in the course of political opposition. Critics of the Tinubu administration argue the trial is politically motivated; the DSS maintains it is a matter of national security.

Sources: Arise News, ThisDay Live, Blueprint Newspapers, Premium Times