Ex-Gov El-Rufai Gets N100m Bail Over Bugging Phone Of Tinubu’s Security Adviser Ribadu
Kaduna State’s former Governor Nasir El-Rufai has been granted bail in the sum of N100 million over allegations of being involved in the bugging of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu’s telephone line.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who delivered the ruling today Monday, May 18, 2026, admitted El-Rufai to bail with one surety in like sum.
The court outlined strict conditions for the bail, requiring the surety to reside in either Maitama or Asokoro districts of Abuja and deposit the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property with the court registry.
The surety must be a federal civil servant not below Grade Level 17 and provide proof of salary payments for at least three months.
Additional conditions require the surety to submit an affidavit of means, enter into a bail bond, provide a recent passport photograph, and submit a tax clearance certificate covering the last six months.
All documents must be authenticated through a verification letter from the surety’s bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction.
The court also ordered El-Rufai to surrender all valid international passports and report to the headquarters of the Department of State Services every last Friday of the month by 10am to sign an attendance register pending the determination of the case.
Justice Abdulmalik further directed the former governor to submit a letter of attestation from the Chairman of the Kaduna State Traditional Council as part of the bail requirements.
The judge warned that any violation of the bail conditions would lead to automatic revocation.
El-Rufai was brought to the court premises at about 8:55am by DSS operatives amid tight security.
The security operatives temporarily restricted access to parts of the court complex, preventing journalists and other court users from entering immediately after the former governor arrived.
The development sparked a brief protest led by activist and former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, Omoyele Sowore, who argued that court proceedings should remain open to the public.
The former governor is being prosecuted by the Department of State Services over his alleged involvement in the bugging of the telephone line of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
He was arraigned on a five-count charge marked FHC/ABJ/99/2026 for allegedly accessing the telephone conversation of the NSA.
