Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure her husband receives fair treatment, saying the family has endured emotional trauma and is only asking that his constitutional rights be respected as his trial continues.
Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, one of the wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to ensure that her husband receives fair treatment in the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja alongside El-Rufai’s other wife, Aichatou, Asia said the family was not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process but to ensure that the former governor enjoys the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.
Asia recalled the role she and her husband played during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential campaign, saying they worked tirelessly for his electoral victory and had expected fairness from the administration.
Addressing the President directly, she said:
“Mr President, Sir, I campaigned for you. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?”
She stressed that the family was not seeking preferential treatment or immunity from prosecution but was asking that El-Rufai be granted his basic constitutional rights, including access to adequate medical care, legal representation and bail on reasonable conditions if the court deems it appropriate.
The appeal came hours after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) announced the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, over alleged false statements connected to the former governor’s court-approved medical visit.
The anti-graft agency also alleged that El-Rufai breached the conditions attached to the medical visit while in custody, claims that have intensified public attention on the ongoing legal proceedings.
Asia alleged that her husband, whom she said suffers from high blood pressure and high blood sugar, had experienced difficulties accessing adequate medical treatment while in custody. She further claimed that restrictions on family visits, lawyers and medical personnel had left the family traumatised.
However, the ICPC has maintained that it has acted in compliance with court directives and has respected the rights and welfare of persons in its custody.
Asia urged President Tinubu to allow the legal process to proceed fairly while ensuring that El-Rufai’s constitutional rights are protected.
She maintained that the family’s request was not for political intervention but for justice, due process and humane treatment throughout the trial.
As of the time of filing this report, the Presidency had not publicly responded to her appeal.
The appeal adds another dimension to the high-profile legal proceedings involving the former Kaduna governor, as family members continue to voice concerns over his welfare and treatment in custody. While the courts remain responsible for determining the criminal charges against El-Rufai, the emotional plea from his wife is likely to generate further public debate over due process, detainees’ rights and the independence of Nigeria’s justice system.