Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai was granted bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday evening but was immediately re-arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) upon leaving the anti-graft agency’s headquarters .
An EFCC source confirmed that El-Rufai was released at about 7:30 p.m. after perfecting his bail papers. The commission granted liberal bail conditions in view of his outstanding cases with the DSS and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as the fact that the DSS had already seized his passport .
However, the former governor barely breathed air of freedom when DSS operatives picked him up at the gate to “enable him make statement on certain wire communication by the NSA” .
A security source explained that the arrest is a legal precondition for his arraignment in court, adding: “We are legally bound to obtain his statement on oath because his allegations are weighty security matters” .
The DSS action relates to El-Rufai’s admission during a February 13 Arise TV interview that he and others unlawfully intercepted phone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu .
A three-count charge has already been filed against him at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, under the Cybercrimes Act and Nigerian Communications Act. The charges carry penalties including two years imprisonment or N5 million fine under Section 12(1) of the Cybercrimes Act .
The ex-governor may be arraigned in court today (Thursday) on the charges preferred against him .
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