Court Grants Nasir El-Rufai N100m Bail In ‘Phone Interception’ Case

The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna state governor Nasir El-Rufai over alleged access to a phone conversation involving Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser (NSA).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik granted the bail on Monday in the sum of N100 million with one surety in like sum.

The court said the surety must live in either Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja and submit the original Certificate of Occupancy for a landed property to the court registry.

The judge also ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant on grade level 17 or above and present proof of salary payments for at least three months.

The payment records must be confirmed by a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.

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The surety is also expected to submit an affidavit of means, sign a bail bond, provide a recent passport photograph, a verification letter from their department, and a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.

Justice Abdulmalik further directed El-Rufai to hand over all valid international passports to the court registrar.

She also ordered him to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) every last Friday of the month by 10am to sign an attendance register until the case is concluded.

The former Kaduna governor was also instructed to submit a letter of attestation from the chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.

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The judge warned that failure to meet any of the bail conditions would lead to the automatic cancellation of the bail.

The court ordered an accelerated hearing of the case and adjourned the commencement of trial to Monday..

El-Rufai was arraigned in April on a five-count amended charge related to the alleged unauthorised access to Ribadu’s phone conversation. He denied all the allegations and pleaded not guilty.

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