Former Kaduna Governor El‑Rufai Loses Bail Variation Request, Remains in Prison

Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El‑Rufai failed to secure a variation of the bail conditions imposed on him by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

On Tuesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik denied the former governor’s request to relax the bail terms while hearing his application.

El‑Rufai, represented by lawyer Paul Erokoro, SAN, had asked for a change to some of the bail conditions, describing them as harsh, stringent, outlandish and difficult to satisfy.

The senior counsel argued that the bail terms were excessively strict, especially the requirement that level‑17 civil servants possess property in either Maitama or Asokoro, and the need for verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State traditional council.

Prosecutor Oluwole Aladedoye, SAN, opposed the request, stating that qualified public officers who meet the conditions do exist and urging the court to reject the application.

Justice Abdulmalik ruled against the variation, noting that there are civil servants who own property at the specified locations.

During the same proceedings, the Department of State Services closed its case against the former governor in the ongoing alleged wiretapping trial before the Federal High Court.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel Aladedoye informed the court that the prosecution would not call additional witnesses, leading to the formal closure of the DSS case.

Following this, defence counsel Erokoro SAN announced that the defence would file a no‑case submission, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish sufficient evidence against El‑Rufai.

The defence requested two weeks to file the submission, while the prosecution asked for two weeks to respond and complete the necessary filings.

Justice Abdulmalik set the hearing for the no‑case submission and the continuation of the proceedings on September 22.