A requirement for attestation by the Kaduna State Traditional Council has become the main obstacle preventing former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, from meeting the conditions attached to his court-approved bail, according to his wife, Asiya El-Rufai — FirstNigerian.com reports.
Speaking on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday, Asiya El-Rufai said the Federal High Court granted her husband bail but included a condition requiring an attestation from the Kaduna State Traditional Council.
She said the family had been unable to obtain the document despite repeated efforts, adding that the council informed them it could not issue the attestation without providing a reason.
“I don’t want to speculate. They gave no reason directly. They just said that they’re not able to do it,” she said.
Bail Conditions Include Sureties And Property
According to Asiya El-Rufai, the court ordered two sureties of N200 million each, supported by properties valued at N200 million in Kaduna’s Government Reserved Area (GRA), in addition to the traditional council’s attestation.
She said the inability to secure the attestation has prevented the family from fulfilling the bail requirements and completing the process for his release.
Asiya also maintained that the charges against her husband are bailable under Nigerian law and said previous applications for bail at the High Court had been unsuccessful before the Federal High Court granted bail on the current terms.
The Kaduna State Traditional Council has not publicly responded to the family’s claims, nor has it issued an explanation regarding the reported refusal to provide the required attestation.
The court requires the traditional council’s attestation as part of the documents needed to approve the sureties and complete the bail process. Until the family meets that requirement or the court changes the bail conditions, El-Rufai will remain in custody despite the bail ruling.
