The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of N100 million over allegations bordering on breach of national security.
Delivering ruling on the defendant’s bail application, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik imposed stringent conditions for the former governor’s release pending trial.
The court ordered El-Rufai to provide one surety in like sum. According to the ruling, the surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must submit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry.
Justice Abdulmalik further ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months. The salary records must be authenticated by a bank manager operating within the court’s jurisdiction.
In addition, the surety is required to depose to an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry.
As part of the bail conditions, the former governor was directed to surrender all valid international passports to the court.
The court also ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s department, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed El-Rufai 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 conclusion of the trial.
The judge warned that failure to comply with any of the conditions would result in an automatic revocation of the bail.
The court additionally ordered the defendant to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently ordered an accelerated hearing in the case filed against the former governor by the Nigerian government.
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