From Victor Osula, Abuja
A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, for ₦100 million, with one surety in like sum, while ordering him to report monthly to the headquarters of the Department of State Services pending the determination of the criminal charges against him.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling on Monday, imposing a raft of stringent conditions the former governor must fulfil before perfecting the bail.
The court directed that the surety must reside in either the the Maitama or Asokoro district of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy for a landed property at the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled 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.
According to the court, the salary records must be authenticated through a letter issued by the manager of a bank operating within the jurisdiction of the court.
The judge also ordered the surety to depose to an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry as part of the conditions for the release of the defendant.
As part of measures to ensure his availability for trial, the court directed El-Rufai to deposit all valid international passports with the court registry pending the conclusion of the case.
The court additionally ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
As a major condition attached to the bail, Justice Abdulmalik ordered the former governor to report to the DSS headquarters on the last Friday of every month by 10 a.m. to sign the attendance register throughout the duration of the trial.
The judge warned that failure to comply with any of the bail conditions would result in an 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.
Although details of the full charges vary across the different cases, the allegations reportedly include issues relating to financial misconduct during his tenure as governor, as well as other related offences currently under investigation.
El-Rufai, however, has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that the cases against him are politically motivated.
His legal team has continued to press for more favourable bail terms while challenging aspects of the prosecution’s case.
