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…Court declines request to ease bail conditions
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…Case adjourned to Sept. 22
By Vivian Okejeme
The former governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has indicated his intention to file a no-case submission in his ongoing trial over alleged wiretapping brought against him by the Federal Government.
This development followed the formal closure of the prosecution’s case by the Department of State Services (DSS) at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution counsel, Oluwole Aladedoye, informed the court that the state would not be calling any further witnesses, effectively wrapping up the DSS’s case against the former governor.
In response, lead defense counsel Paul Erokoro (SAN) told the court that the defense team intends to file a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution has completely failed to establish sufficient evidence to link El-Rufai to the alleged crime.
The defense requested two weeks to file the formal application, while the prosecution asked for two weeks to respond.
During the proceedings, Erokoro also applied for a variation of the bail conditions previously granted to El-Rufai, describing them as excessively stringent and difficult to meet.
The defense argued against the requirement for Level 17 civil servants who own verified properties in upscale Abuja districts like Maitama or Asokoro to act as sureties, alongside verification and attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
The prosecution strongly opposed the application, insisting that qualified public officers meeting those benchmarks exist and urging the court to deny the variation.
In her bench ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, declined the request to alter the bail terms, agreeing with the prosecution that there are indeed civil servants who legitimately own properties in the specified locations.
Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the case to September 22, 2026, for the adoption of the no-case submission and continuation of the trial.
