A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday declined an application by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, seeking a review of the bail conditions earlier imposed on him in his ongoing trial over alleged wiretapping.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik ruled that the conditions attached to the bail remained valid and refused to vary them, despite arguments by the defence that they were difficult to fulfil.
El-Rufai, through his counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), had urged the court to relax some of the requirements, describing them as stringent and impractical.
The senior advocate particularly challenged the conditions requiring sureties who are Level 17 civil servants with landed properties in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts, as well as letters of verification and attestation from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
However, counsel for the prosecution, Oluwole Aladedoye (SAN), opposed the application, insisting that individuals capable of meeting the conditions were available and urging the court to dismiss the request.
In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that the bail terms were not impossible to satisfy, noting that civil servants with properties in the specified locations exist.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Services formally closed its case against the former governor during Tuesday’s proceedings.
The prosecution informed the court that it would not be calling additional witnesses, paving the way for the defence to open its case.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, El-Rufai’s lawyer indicated plans to file a no-case submission, arguing that the evidence presented by the DSS failed to establish a prima facie case against his client.
The defence sought two weeks to file the application, while the prosecution requested a similar period to respond.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22 for the hearing of the no-case submission and further proceedings in the trial.