Atiku warns bail conditions for El-Rufai amount to punishment before conviction
Atiku Abubakar, through his spokesperson Phrank Shaibu, said today that the Federal High Court’s refusal to review bail conditions for former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai turns bail into punishment before conviction. He argued that the court’s demands—requiring a serving Grade Level 17 federal civil servant who must also own verifiable property in Maitama or Asokoro, plus other requirements—are manifestly excessive and defeat the purpose of bail.
The former vice president warned that bail exists to preserve the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty, not to become a sophisticated instrument for pretrial detention. When conditions are impossible for most Nigerians to meet, the liberty of any citizen depends on wealth or connections rather than law, eroding the rule of law.
Atiku stressed that the danger of such precedents goes beyond El-Rufai; tomorrow it could be any citizen whose freedom hinges on meeting unattainable judicial demands. He urged courts to exercise bail discretion judicially and judiciously, ensuring bail remains a safeguard, not a barrier. What should Nigerians watch for in future bail rulings, and how can the judiciary ensure bail protects liberty instead of restricting it?