ABUJA, May 18, 2026 — Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai in the sum of ₦100 million with one surety in like sum. The ruling marks a significant development in the high-profile case involving alleged unlawful interception of communications and breach of national security.
El-Rufai faces a five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS), to which he pleaded not guilty. The allegations centre on the alleged wiretapping of phone lines belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The former governor, who led Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, was arraigned on April 23, 2026, and has remained in DSS custody pending today’s ruling.
Stringent Bail Conditions
In delivering the ruling, Justice Abdulmalik imposed rigorous conditions for the perfection of bail. The proposed surety must meet the following criteria:
- Be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17.
- Reside in either the Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja.
- Deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of a landed property at the court registry.
- Provide evidence of salary payments for at least three months, authenticated by a bank manager’s letter within the court’s jurisdiction.
- Depose to an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond, and submit a recent passport photograph.
Additional conditions directly binding El-Rufai include:
- Depositing all his valid international passports with the court registry.
- Submitting a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department and a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
- Reporting to the DSS headquarters every last Friday of the month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register.
- Submitting a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council.
- The judge issued a stern warning that any failure to comply with these conditions would result in the automatic revocation of the bail.
- Legal and Political Context
This bail grant is separate from El-Rufai’s ongoing corruption trial before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). In April 2026, a Federal High Court in Kaduna granted him ₦200 million bail in that matter, also with stringent conditions.
Legal sources close to the matter described the Abuja ruling as a significant but conditional relief for the embattled politician. Supporters who gathered outside the courtroom cheered the decision, with some describing it as “justice prevailing” amid claims of political persecution ahead of the 2027 general elections. Critics, however, maintain that the charges border on national security and warrant strict judicial oversight.
Next Steps
The case has been adjourned to allow for the perfection of the bail conditions. Further proceedings in the wiretapping trial are expected to continue in the coming days, with the court scheduling accelerated hearings for May 18, 19, and 20 to address pending applications.
The ruling underscores the judiciary’s careful balancing act in high-stakes political cases—upholding the presumption of innocence while ensuring that national security concerns are adequately addressed through strict bail terms.
