The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted a N100 million bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, in his trial for alleged security breaches. Justice Joyce Abdulmalik delivered the ruling, imposing a series of stringent conditions that the defendant must meet to perfect the bail. El-Rufai had previously admitted on national television to wiretapping the National Security Adviser (NSA), Malam Nuhu Ribadu, and is being charged by the Department of State Services (DSS) for allegedly breaching national security.

Among the detailed bail conditions, the court stipulated that the proposed surety must reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry. Additionally, the surety is required to be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months, authenticated by a letter from the manager of their bank within the court’s jurisdiction.

The court further mandated that the surety must depose to an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph to the court registry. As part of his personal obligations, El-Rufai is to deposit all valid international passports with the court. Other required documents include a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department and a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months. The court also directed the submission of a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council.

Justice Abdulmalik ordered the former governor to report to the headquarters of the DSS every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register, pending the determination of the case. The judge issued a stern warning that any failure to comply with these conditions would lead to an automatic revocation of the bail. The court has also ordered an accelerated trial, and the case was subsequently adjourned for further proceedings.