Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives fair treatment, saying the family had endured trauma despite the support they gave the President during the 2023 election campaign.
Asia, who spoke alongside El-Rufai’s other wife, Aichatou, at their Abuja residence, said the family was not asking the President to interfere with the ongoing trial but to ensure that the former governor enjoyed the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.
Her appeal came hours after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, over alleged false statements linked to the formergovernor’s medical visit while in custody.
Asia also alleged that her husband, who she said had been diagnosed with high blood pressure and high blood sugar, had been denied access to adequate medical treatment.
She recalled the role she and her husband played during Tinubu’s presidential campaign.
“Mr President, Sir, I campaigned for you. I stood up and went to every nook and cranny of Kaduna State for you. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?
“The ball is in your court, Mr President. All these can stop if you say a word. We believe that you are a father, and we know you can empathise,” she stated.
Asia maintained that the family was not seeking special treatment or political interference in the legal process.
“Please, I am not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him, but we are asking you to allow him the basic human rights that the Constitution you swore to uphold and defend guarantees.
“Let them give him the bail that he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court decide.”
She alleged that El-Rufai’s continued detention and restrictions on access to doctors, relatives and lawyers had left the family traumatised.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news
“I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and his family. If they humiliate, dehumanise and put us in constant fear, they feel it affects him,” she said.
“We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?” she asked.
The family further alleged that El-Rufai had been denied regular access to his personal doctors while visits by relatives had become increasingly restricted.
They also raised concerns over a medical report purportedly issued by the National Hospital Abuja, saying questions surrounding the document’s authenticity and the circumstances under which it was issued should be investigated through the consultant whose name appeared on it.
According to Asia, the restrictions had also affected the former governor’s ability to prepare his defence.
She reiterated the family’s appeal for El-Rufai to be granted bail on conditions he could reasonably meet pending the conclusion of his trial.
“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard. Malam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers.
“We are only asking that he be given the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Let him be granted bail on reasonable terms. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide,” she stressed.
The appeal followed a statement by the ICPC on Tuesday alleging that El-Rufai breached the conditions of a court-approved medical visit while in the commission’s custody.
The anti-graft agency said it had also arrested the former governor’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, for allegedly making false statements.
According to the commission, it facilitated El-Rufai’s medical visit in compliance with a court directive and its obligation to respect the rights and welfare of persons in custody.
The commission further stated that the Kaduna State High Court fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor, but that he failed to appear on the first day of proceedings after insisting on seeing his personal doctor before leaving for court.
Cc: Punch