By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of ₦100 million, setting out a series of stringent conditions that may shape the pace and direction of the legal battle surrounding his ongoing trial.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, while delivering the ruling on Monday, held that the former governor must provide one surety in like sum before he can perfect the bail terms. The decision comes amid growing public attention surrounding the case involving the former governor, whose political profile and influence have made the proceedings one of the country’s most closely watched legal matters.
According to the court, the surety must reside within Abuja’s high-profile Maitama or Asokoro districts and provide the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry. In addition, the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and present evidence of salary payments covering at least three months, authenticated through a bank manager’s letter within the court’s jurisdiction.
The court further ordered that the surety depose to an affidavit of means, enter a formal bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph.
In another major restriction, El-Rufai was directed to surrender all valid international passports to the court registry, effectively limiting his international movement while the case remains before the court.
Justice Abdulmalik also mandated the former governor to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the determination of the matter.
The judge issued a stern warning that any breach of the conditions would trigger an automatic revocation of the bail.
In a further requirement, the court ordered the submission of a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department alongside a six-month tax clearance certificate. The defendant was additionally directed to provide a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
The ruling follows the recent arraignment of El-Rufai by the DSS on an amended five-count charge, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The bail conditions reflect the court’s apparent attempt to strike a balance between preserving the constitutional presumption of innocence and ensuring the defendant remains within reach of judicial authorities throughout the trial process.
Political and legal observers are likely to interpret the development through different lenses. Supporters may view the bail as a reaffirmation of due process and judicial fairness, while critics could point to the unusually detailed conditions as evidence of the seriousness with which the court is treating the case.
The case could also have broader political implications. El-Rufai remains an influential figure in Nigeria’s political space, and the outcome of the trial may shape future calculations within opposition and ruling party circles as political alignments continue ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.
