Fresh Twist As Court Moves On DSS Case Involving El-Rufai

The brief adjournment was granted to allow defence counsel and court officials to properly reconcile and locate missing case files before the hearing continues.

El-Rufai was re-arraigned on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja by the Department of State Services (DSS) in connection with allegations relating to the alleged interception of the telephone conversation of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

He was brought to the court premises at about 8:55 a.m. under heavy security escort by operatives of the secret police.

In a related development, Justice Abdulmalik also granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of ₦100 million, with one surety in the same amount.

The court ruled that the surety must reside within Maitama or Asokoro in Abuja and is required to submit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property to the court registry.

It further stated that the surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and must provide proof of salary payments for at least three months, verified by a bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.

Additional conditions include an affidavit of means, execution of a bail bond, and submission of a recent passport photograph.

El-Rufai is also required to surrender all valid international passports to the court.

The court directed that a verification letter from the surety’s department, along with a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months, must also be provided.

As part of the bail conditions, El-Rufai is to report to the DSS headquarters on the last Friday of every month by 10 a.m. to sign an attendance register until the case is concluded, with a warning that failure to comply would result in the revocation of bail.

The judge further ordered that an attestation letter from the Chairman of the Kaduna Traditional Council be submitted as part of the conditions.