Judge Takes Fresh Action On DSS Case Against El-Rufai

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik has ordered the case against the former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, to be stood down till 1:00 pm, today, Monday, 18th May.

The Judge took the decision to order a brief pause to allow the defence counsel and court registrars to properly regularize and locate missing case files before proceedings resume.

Naija News reports that El-Rufai was re-arraigned on Monday before the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Department of State Services over an ongoing case linked to the alleged tapping of the phone of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.

El-Rufai was brought to the court premises at about 8:55 am on Monday by heavily armed operatives of the secret police.

Meanwhile, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for one hundred million naira, with one surety in like sum.

Naija News reports that Justice Abdulmalik, while delivering the ruling on Monday, held that the proposed surety must reside in either the Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property at the court registry.

The court also held that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months.

These documents will be authenticated by a letter from the surety’s bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.

The court further ordered the surety 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, El-Rufai is to deposit all valid international passports with the court, following the directive that a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department be submitted, alongside a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.

Justice Abdulmalik further ordered the defendant to report to the Department of State Services headquarters on the last Friday of each month by 10 a.m. to sign the attendance register, pending the determination of the case.

The judge warned that failure to comply would result in an automatic revocation of bail.

The court additionally directed the defendant to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.