…Court declines to vary bail conditions
The Department of State Services (DSS) on Tuesday, closed its case against former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, who is standing trial before the Federal High Court in Abuja for allegedly interfering with the communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu unlawfully.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, prosecuting counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN informed the court that the prosecution would not be calling further witnesses in the matter, prompting the formal closure of the case of the DSS against the former governor.
Following the development, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro, SAN told the court that the defence intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has failed to establish sufficient evidence against
El-Rufai.
The defence subsequently sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested two weeks to respond.
The defence also applied for a variation of some of the bail conditions earlier granted the former governor, describing them as stringent and difficult to meet.
The defence argued that the bail terms were too stringent, particularly the requirements for grade level 17 civil servants with properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna state traditional council.
However, the prosecution counsel opposed the request, insisting that qualified public officers who meet the conditions exist and urged the court to refuse the application.
In her ruling ruling, the trial judge, Justice joyce Abdulmalik declined the request to vary the bail conditions, ruling that there are civil servants who owns properties at the said location.
The court however adjourned the matter till September 22 for the filing of the no-case submission by the former governor and continuation of trial.
El-Rufai was docked by the DSS on behalf of the federal government on a five-count amended charge, marked, FHC/ABJ/CR/99/2026.
The former governor however denied all the allegations levelled against him by the federal government when the charges were read out to him in the court.
Count one of the charges against the former governor reads, “That you, Malam Nasir EI Rufai, adult, male, intentionally and unlawfully
interfered with the communication of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, which constitutes Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNI) as
contained in designation and protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024 gazetted as Statutory Instrument No. 21 of 2024, as
admitted by you on 13th February, 2026 while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s prime time programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this
Honourable Court and thereby committed an offence contrary to Paragraph 7 (b) & (c) of the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information
Infrastructure Order, 2024 and punishable under Section 5 (1) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
Count two reads, “That you, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, adult, male, without authorization, intentionally
secured access to classified information by the National Security Adviser, Nuhu
Ribadu, ordering your arrest and detention on 12th of February, 2026, as admitted by you on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV station’s
prime time programme in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 6 (2)
of the Cybererimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
In count three, the former governor was accused of intentionally and without authorization, intercepted the communications of the NSA, which he admitted on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on a programme on Arise TV station in Abuja, thereby committed an offence contrary
to and punishable under Section 12 (1) of the Cybererimes (Prohibition,
Prevention, etc) Amendment Act, 2024.
In count four, El Rufai was accused to have aided, abetted, procured and/or related with certain individual, who unlawfully intercepted the communications
of Nuhu Ribadu, without reporting the said individual to relevant security agencies, as admitted by him on 13th February, 2026, while appearing as a guest on Arise TV Station.
The federal government accused
El Rufai in count five of using technical equipment or systems which compromised public safety, national security and
instilling reasonable apprehension of insecurity among Nigerians by unlawfully intercepting the communications of the NSA, which he admitted during an interview on Arise TV station’s prime time Programme in Abuja.
END
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