Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday evening, July 7, made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives fair treatment and constitutional rights while in custody.
Speaking alongside Aichatou El-Rufai, the former governor’s second wife, Asiya addressed journalists in Abuja hours after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, arrested the ex-governor’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar.
The family said the former governor, who they claim is battling severe hypertension and high blood sugar, has been denied access to essential medical care and isolated from family and legal counsel.
Asiya stressed that the family is not seeking to halt judicial proceedings, but is demanding basic constitutional protections.
“We are not asking for an interruption of the judicial process,” she said. “We are asking for the basic rights guaranteed to every Nigerian citizen: access to legal counsel, family visitation, medical care, and reasonable bail conditions.”
Directly addressing the President, she recalled the family’s role in the 2023 elections.
“Mr. President Sir, 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?” she asked.
“The ball is in your court, Mr. President. All of this can stop if you say a word. We believe that you are a father and we know you can empathise.”
She further urged the President not to interfere with prosecution, but to ensure due process.
“Please let him go. I am not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him,” Asiya said. “But we are asking that he be granted the basic human rights the Constitution you swore to uphold guarantees. Give him bail he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court decide.”
According to Asiya, strict restrictions on visitors and medical professionals have caused severe emotional distress for the family.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear bad news,” she said.
“I honestly believe what they are doing is psychological warfare against Malam and his family. If they humiliate us, dehumanise us, and keep us in constant fear, they think it will affect Malam.”
She added that the detention was also affecting his ability to prepare a defence.
“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 in custody with limited access to his lawyers,” she stressed.
As of press time, the ICPC and the Presidency had not issued an official response to the family’s appeal.
