Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday evening, July 7, urging fair treatment for her husband. She highlighted the family's active role in securing Tinubu's 2023 electoral victory.
Speaking alongside El-Rufai's second wife, Aichatou, Asiya addressed the media following the arrest of the former governor's personal doctor, Prof. Bello Abubakar, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). The family stated that El-Rufai, who suffers from severe hypertension and high blood sugar, has been isolated from essential medical care.
Family seeks constitutional rights, not interference
Asiya emphasized that they are not seeking to halt the judicial process but rather basic constitutional protections: legal counsel, family visitation, medical access, and reasonable bail conditions. She directly addressed President Tinubu, recounting the intensive campaign efforts her family undertook on his behalf.
“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,” Asiya said.
Plea for justice, not political intervention
Insisting the family seeks justice rather than political intervention, she added: “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. 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.”
Asiya noted that strict limits on visitors and medical professionals have caused severe emotional distress. “We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news,” she said.
Allegations of psychological warfare
“I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Malam and against his family. If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Malam,” Asiya stated. She stressed the need for a fair 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.”
