Former Kaduna State governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai fails to get the Federal High Court in Abuja to vary his bail conditions. In a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik rejected El-Rufai’s application to relax terms he described as harsh and difficult to meet. Through his lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN), El-Rufai argued that some requirements are overly stringent, including conditions tied to “level 17” civil servants who own properties in Maitama or Asokoro, as well as verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State traditional council.
Prosecutors opposed the request. Prosecuting counsel Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN) told the court that suitable qualified public officers meeting the stated requirements exist and urged the court to dismiss the application. Justice Abdulmalik declined to vary the bail conditions, stating that civil servants who own properties in the specified areas are available.
At the same hearing in El-Rufai’s ongoing wiretapping trial, the Department of State Services closed its case after indicating it would not call further witnesses. The defence said it plans to file a no-case submission, seeking two weeks to do so. Justice Abdulmalik scheduled the no-case submission hearing for September 22 and set the continuation of proceedings.
