The Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, bail in the sum of N100 million in an ongoing criminal case instituted against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged cybercrime-related offences and national security breaches.
Delivering ruling on Monday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the former governor is admitted to bail with one surety in like sum, subject to strict conditions aimed at ensuring compliance with court proceedings throughout the trial.
The case, filed by the DSS, borders on alleged violations of provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act and other national security laws.
The court imposed strict bail conditions requiring that the surety must be a serving federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17, resident in Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja.
The surety is also required to provide proof of at least three months’ salary payments, verified by a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction, alongside additional documentation to establish credibility and financial standing.
In addition, the surety must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a landed property at the court registry, swear to an affidavit of means, execute a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph.
Justice Abdulmalik further ordered El-Rufai to surrender all valid international passports to the court registry pending the determination of the case.
The former governor must also present a verification letter from the department of his surety, as well as a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
One of the most stringent conditions imposed by the court is that El-Rufai must report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja every last Friday of the month at 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register throughout the duration of the trial.
The judge warned that any failure to comply with the bail conditions would result in immediate revocation of bail.
The DSS had arraigned El-Rufai on an amended five-count charge involving allegations of unlawful interference with communications and breaches of national security regulations.
Court documents indicate that the charges are linked to alleged interception of telephone communications involving top national security officials.
Prosecutors also accused the former governor of violating the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and provisions of the Cybercrime Act, though El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The prosecution, led by Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), had pushed for accelerated hearing, while the defence team raised concerns over multiple ongoing cases involving the former governor.
This latest ruling adds to El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles.
In a separate case in Kaduna, the former governor had earlier been granted bail over allegations of money laundering, abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct brought by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Those allegations include claims relating to an uncompleted N11 billion light rail project and alleged mismanagement of public funds and donor resources during his tenure as governor.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining his innocence in both the DSS and ICPC cases.
The Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to continue hearing the DSS case at a later date to be communicated by the court registry.
Source – Newstrend
(vitalnewsngr.com)
