Court grants El-Rufai ₦100m bail over alleged National Security breach

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of ₦100 million in connection with his ongoing trial over alleged breach of national security.

Delivering ruling on the bail application on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ordered that the defendant be released on bail, subject to strict conditions set by the court.

The ex-governor is to provide one surety in like sum. The court ordered 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 at the court registry.

As part of the bail conditions, El-Rufai is to deposit all valid international passports with the court.

The court also directed that a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department be submitted, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.

Justice Abdulmalik further ordered the defendant to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services, DSS, every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register, pending the determination of the case.

The judge warned that failure to comply would lead to an automatic revocation of the bail.

The court additionally directed El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.

The court equally ordered an accelerated trial of the charge brought against El-Rufai by the Nigerian government.