El-Rufai Loses Bail Variation Bid, Defence To File No-Case Submission

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has lost his application to vary his bail conditions, as the Department of State Services closed its case in his ongoing trial over alleged wiretapping and national security breaches.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declined the request to relax the bail conditions, holding that civil servants who own properties in Maitama or Asokoro exist.

El-Rufai’s lawyer, Paul Erokoro SAN, had described the conditions as harsh, stringent and difficult to meet, particularly the requirements for level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.

Prosecution counsel Oluwole Aladedoye SAN opposed the application, arguing that qualified public officers exist who can meet the requirements.

Vanguard reported that shortly after the DSS closed its case, Erokoro notified the court that the defence plans to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to establish sufficient evidence against the former governor.

Daily Post and Channels TV both confirmed that the defence sought two weeks to file the no-case submission, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.

Justice Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to September 22 for hearing of the no-case submission.

Sources: Vanguard, Daily Post, Channels TV