By Mahmoud
Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to ensure her husband is treated fairly, saying the former governor does not deserve what she described as persecution after working tirelessly for Tinubu’s 2023 presidential victory.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja alongside El-Rufai’s other wife on Wednesday, Aichatou, Asiya said the family was not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process but to ensure that El-Rufai enjoys the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian, including access to medical care, lawyers, family members and bail on reasonable terms.
She alleged that her husband, who she said suffers from high blood pressure and high blood sugar, has been denied adequate medical attention while in custody.
In an emotional message directed at President Tinubu, Asiya recalled the role she and her husband played during the 2023 election 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?” she asked.
Appealing for compassion, she added, “The ball is in your court. All these can stop if you say a word. We believe you are a father and can empathise.”
Asiya stressed that the family was not seeking special treatment or asking the President to halt El-Rufai’s prosecution, but only requesting that his constitutional rights be respected.
“We are not saying don’t prosecute him. Give him the basic human rights the Constitution guarantees. Grant him bail on reasonable terms. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide,” she said.
She further claimed that El-Rufai’s continued detention and restrictions on access to his doctors and relatives had left the family traumatised and living in constant fear.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear bad news,” she lamented.
Describing the situation as psychological warfare against her husband and the family, Asiya alleged that the authorities were attempting to break their spirit through humiliation and intimidation.
She also questioned the reported decision to deny El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, access to him, asking who gave the alleged directive preventing the doctor from seeing his patient.
The family further expressed concern over restrictions placed on visits by relatives and medical personnel, as well as the circumstances surrounding a medical report reportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, which they said should be independently investigated.
According to Asiya, the restrictions have also made it difficult for the former governor to adequately prepare his defence.
She appealed for El-Rufai to be granted bail pending the conclusion of his trial, insisting that the courts should be allowed to determine his guilt or innocence while his fundamental rights are protected.
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