Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure that her husband is treated fairly while in detention and granted access to medical care, lawyers and family members.
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Asiya made the appeal on Tuesday night while speaking with journalists at the family’s Abuja residence, shortly after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission confirmed the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar.
She was flanked by her co-wife, Aichatou, during the media briefing.
According to the family, the former governor is battling high blood pressure and high blood sugar, but has allegedly been denied proper access to medical care while in custody.
In a direct appeal to President Tinubu, Asiya recalled the role she and her husband played during the 2023 presidential election, saying the family did not deserve the treatment being meted out to them.
“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?” she asked.
“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.”
Asiya, however, said the family was not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process or stop El-Rufai’s prosecution, but to ensure that his constitutional rights are respected.
“Please let him go free. 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,” she said.
“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 said the restrictions allegedly placed on El-Rufai’s access to his doctors, lawyers and family members had left the family traumatised and living in fear.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news,” she said.
Asiya described the situation as “psychological warfare” against the former governor and his family, alleging that the aim was to humiliate and dehumanise them.
“I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and against his family. If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Mallam,” she said.
The family also questioned the reported denial of access to Prof. Bello Abubakar, El-Rufai’s personal physician, saying they were informed that “orders from above” barred him from seeing anyone for 24 hours.
“We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?” Asiya asked.
She also raised concerns over a medical report allegedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, calling for an investigation into its authenticity and how it was obtained.
The family further alleged that the restrictions imposed on El-Rufai had affected his ability to prepare for his 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 he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers,” she said.
Asiya appealed to the court to grant the former governor bail on terms he can meet pending trial.
“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 added.
The appeal comes amid growing concern from the family over El-Rufai’s health condition, access to legal representation and the arrest of his personal physician.
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