DSS Detains Former Kaduna Gov El-Rufai Hours After Court Granted Him N100 Million Bail

On Monday May 18, 2026, a Federal High Court in Abuja granted former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai bail of N100 million in a national security case brought by the Department of State Services (DSS) but shortly after the ruling, DSS operatives took him back into custody.



The court had set the bail with strict conditions, including one surety in the same amount.
The case centres on claims that El-Rufai unlawfully intercepted phone communications involving National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu.
El-Rufai’s family quickly raised alarm after he was re-arrested and gathered outside the DSS headquarters in Abuja to protest what they called a clear disregard for the court’s order.
Family members said they were denied proper access and expressed worry about his treatment while in custody.
This development adds to El-Rufai’s ongoing legal troubles. He has faced separate probes and cases from agencies like the EFCC and ICPC, mostly linked to his time as governor.