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Veteran journalist and former presidential aide Reuben Abati has indicated that former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El‑Rufai could stay in detention until after the upcoming election, pointing to both political motives and ongoing legal actions.
During Wednesday’s broadcast of Arise Television’s Morning Show, Abati said El‑Rufai’s bail conditions were strict, and the court had refused to modify them even though the former governor reportedly struggled to satisfy a crucial requirement.
Abati explained that El‑Rufai was expected to present a Level 17 official from the Federal Capital Territory as part of his bail conditions—a requirement he claimed he could not meet.
Abati also highlighted that the case includes accusations of wiretapping and corruption, among other matters, and that the court has postponed proceedings until September.
He added that the case has both legal and political aspects, and he believes El‑Rufai is unlikely to be released before the election.
Abati said: “The bail conditions for El-Rufai, yes, they are very stringent, but the way I see it, there is more involved. There is also politics involved.
“He’s been told to look for a level 17 official from the federal capital territory. He says he doesn’t have. The court is not willing to vary the conditions for him.
“It’s a very complex case because he has issues with regard to wire tapping, issues with regard to, you know, other allegations about corruption, about what he did, and then the case has been postponed till September.
“So the way it looks in terms of real politics, I don’t think they will do anything about releasing Nasir El-Rufai until after the election.
“You should just know that this is politics, but this is also about responsibility and accountability.
“We cannot challenge the court in terms of what the court decides. It is within the discretion of the court to say these are the bail conditions, and he says he cannot meet at least one principal bail condition.”
English (US) ·