Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Reuben Abati, has said that former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, may stay in custody till after the election.
Abati spoke on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Wednesday, reacting to the bail conditions handed down to the former governor.
Abati said the terms were strict, adding that El-Rufai was to provide a Level 17 official from the Federal Capital Territory as surety.
“The bail conditions for El-Rufai, yes, they are very stringent, but the way I see it, there is more to it,” he said. There is politics, too.
“He has been instructed to look for a level 17 officer from the Federal Capital Territory. He says he hasn’t got it. The court is not inclined to vary his conditions.”
The case, according to Abati, involved allegations of wiretapping and corruption and proceedings had been adjourned until September.
“It’s a very complicated case because he has problems with respect to wiretapping, problems with respect to, you know, other allegations about corruption, about what he did, and then the case has been moved to September,” he said.
The former presidential aide said the matter seemed to have a legal and political dimension.
“So the way it looks in real politics, I don’t think they will do anything about releasing Nasir El-Rufai until after the election,” Abati said.
“This is politics, but this is also about responsibility and accountability, you should know this.”
He said the court had the authority to set bail conditions even if the defendant could not meet them.
