‎DSS Closes Case Against El-Rufai as Court Rejects Bid to Ease Bail Conditions ‎

The Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected an application by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, seeking a variation of his bail conditions in the ongoing alleged wiretapping case.
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‎Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who presided over the proceedings, ruled that the existing bail terms should remain in force, dismissing the defence’s request to relax the conditions imposed on the former governor.
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‎El-Rufai’s legal team had asked the court to review the stringent requirements, which include the provision of sureties who must be Level 17 civil servants owning property in Abuja’s Maitama or Asokoro districts, as well as attestation letters from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
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‎In her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik held that qualified sureties were still available and that there was no sufficient basis to alter the conditions earlier granted by the court.
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‎Meanwhile, the Department of State Services (DSS) formally closed its case after informing the court that it would not be calling additional witnesses.
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‎Counsel to the DSS, Oluwole Aladedoye, told the court that the prosecution had concluded the presentation of its evidence in the matter.
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‎Responding, defence counsel, Paul Erokoro (SAN), disclosed that the defence would file a no-case submission, contending that the prosecution had failed to establish a prima facie case linking El-Rufai to the allegations.
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‎Following submissions from both parties, the court granted two weeks for the filing and exchange of relevant processes ahead of the next stage of the proceedings.
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‎Justice Abdulmalik subsequently adjourned the matter until September 22, 2026, for the hearing of the no-case submission and continuation of proceedings.
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‎The case centres on allegations of unlawful wiretapping, which El-Rufai has consistently denied.