El-Rufai’s Wife Appeals To Tinubu, Seeks Fair Treatment, Bail For Detained Former Governor
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Samuel Ogidan
The wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that her husband receives what she described as fair treatment, recalling the support their family gave to the President during the 2023 election campaign.
Speaking to journalists at her Abuja residence on Tuesday, alongside El-Rufai’s second wife, Aichatou, Asiya made an emotional plea following the arrest of the former governor’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, an action confirmed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
She also alleged that her husband, who she said is being treated for high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar, had been denied access to adequate medical care while in custody.
According to Asiya, the family is not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process or halt the prosecution of the former governor, but to ensure that he enjoys the constitutional rights available to every Nigerian, including access to medical treatment, legal representation, family members and bail on reasonable terms.
Addressing President Tinubu directly, she recalled the role she and her husband played during the 2023 presidential campaign.
“Mr. President, I campaigned for you. I 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 you are a father, and we know you can empathise,” She said.
Asiya stressed that the family was only seeking respect for El-Rufai’s constitutional rights and not preferential treatment.
“We are not asking you to stop his prosecution. We are asking that he be allowed to enjoy the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Let him be granted bail on terms he can reasonably meet. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide,” she said.
She further alleged that the former governor’s continued detention and restrictions on access to his doctors, lawyers and relatives had left the family traumatised.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up one day and hear bad news,” she said.
Describing the situation as psychological pressure on both El-Rufai and his family, Asiya alleged that the restrictions were intended to intimidate them.
“I honestly think what they are doing is psychological warfare against Malam and against his family. If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and keep us in constant fear, they believe it affects him,” she stated.
She also questioned the reported decision to prevent El-Rufai’s personal physician from seeing him.
“We were told that orders from ‘above’ directed that Professor Bello Abubakar should not have access to anybody for 24 hours. We want to know who this ‘above’ is,” she said.
The family further alleged that El-Rufai had been denied regular access to his personal doctors and that visits by relatives had become increasingly restricted.
They also raised concerns over a medical report reportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, calling for clarification on the circumstances surrounding the document and its authenticity.
According to the family, the restrictions have also made it difficult for the former governor to adequately prepare his legal defence.
“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. Malam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody with limited access to his lawyers,” Asiya said.
She appealed for El-Rufai to be granted bail on reasonable terms pending the conclusion of his trial, insisting that the determination of his guilt or innocence should be left to the courts.
