Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday confronted President Bola Tinubu over the treatment of her husband, asking whether the ordeal her family is facing is the reward for the support they gave him during the 2023 presidential election.
Speaking alongside El-Rufai’s other wife, Aichatou, at their Abuja residence, Asia made an emotional appeal to the President to ensure the former governor receives fair treatment and enjoys the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian, stressing that the family was not seeking political interference in his ongoing trial.
The appeal came hours after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, over alleged false statements linked to the former governor’s court-approved medical visit while in custody.
Asia alleged that her husband, whom she said has been diagnosed with high blood pressure and high blood sugar, had been denied adequate medical attention while in detention.
Recalling the sacrifices she and her husband made during Tinubu’s campaign, she questioned why the family was now being subjected to what she described as humiliation and suffering.
“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 maintained that the family was not asking the President to stop the prosecution but to ensure that El-Rufai was accorded his constitutional rights, including access to medical care and bail on reasonable terms.
“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.”
Asia further alleged that the continued detention of the former governor, coupled with restrictions on access to his doctors, lawyers and family members, had left the family living in fear.
“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 also questioned the reported decision to deny El-Rufai’s personal physician access to him following his arrest.
“We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?”
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, urging that questions surrounding its authenticity be investigated through the consultant whose name appeared on the document.
According to Asia, the restrictions have also hindered the former governor’s ability to adequately prepare his defence.
“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard. Mallam 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.”
Meanwhile, the ICPC maintained that El-Rufai breached the conditions attached to a court-approved medical visit while in its custody.
The commission also confirmed the arrest of Prof. Bello Abubakar, alleging that the physician made false statements in connection with the former governor’s medical visit.
According to the anti-graft agency, it approved El-Rufai’s medical visit in compliance with a court order and in line with its obligation to respect the rights and welfare of persons in custody.
The commission further disclosed that the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor but alleged that he failed to appear on the first day after insisting on seeing his personal doctor before proceeding to court.
