By Ghazali Ibrahim
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday granted bail to former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, in the sum of N100 million over allegations that he unlawfully intercepted the phone communications of National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the matter, ordered El-Rufai to provide one surety who must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and resident in either Maitama or Asokoro, Abuja.
The court further directed that the surety must deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property valued at not less than the bail amount, alongside evidence of salary payments for at least three months and a verified letter from a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.
Other conditions include submission of an affidavit of means, a recent passport photograph, a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months, and a verification letter from the surety’s department.
Justice Abdulmalik also ordered the former governor to surrender all valid international passports and barred him from travelling outside the country without the court’s permission.
In addition, El-Rufai was directed to report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services (DSS) every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register pending the conclusion of the trial.
The judge warned that any breach of the bail conditions would lead to an automatic revocation of the bail.
The court also ordered El-Rufai to submit a letter of attestation from the chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council and directed that the matter be given accelerated hearing.
El-Rufai, who served as Kaduna governor from 2015 to 2023 and previously as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, is facing a five-count amended charge marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026.
The DSS accused him and other persons said to be at large of unlawfully intercepting the communications of the NSA, an offence allegedly contrary to provisions of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Amendment Act, 2024, and the Nigerian Communications Act 2003.
According to the prosecution, El-Rufai made comments during an appearance on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on February 13, 2026, suggesting that he had access to information obtained through the interception of Ribadu’s phone conversations.
The DSS further alleged that he failed to report the alleged crime to security agencies and that the unlawful interception compromised national security and caused public apprehension.
The former governor has denied the allegations and filed a motion seeking to quash the charges, arguing that remarks made during a television interview cannot legally amount to a confessional statement.
El-Rufai maintained that his comments on television were casual remarks made voluntarily and not statements obtained under caution in line with legal requirements for confessions.
