El-Rufai’s Wives Beg Tinubu for Fair Treatment, Say Family Is Traumatised

El-Rufai’s Wives Beg Tinubu for Fair Treatment, Say Family Is Traumatised

ABUJA — The wives of former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have made an emotional appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to ensure their husband receives fair treatment and enjoys his constitutional rights amid his ongoing legal battle.

Speaking with journalists at their Abuja residence on Tuesday, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, flanked by the former governor’s second wife, Aichatou El-Rufai, reminded the President of the support their family gave him during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

According to Asiya, the family is not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process or stop the prosecution of the former governor, but to ensure that he is accorded the rights guaranteed to every Nigerian under the Constitution.

“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 said.

She added that the President has the authority to ensure fairness, saying, “The ball is in your court. We believe you are a father and can empathise.”

The former Kaduna First Lady appealed for El-Rufai to be granted bail on reasonable terms, stressing that the courts should determine his innocence or guilt.

“We are not asking you to stop the prosecution. We are only asking that he be allowed the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution. If he is guilty, let the court decide; if he is innocent, let the court also decide,” she said.

Asiya alleged that the family had been subjected to severe emotional distress since the former governor’s detention, describing their experience as “psychological warfare.”

“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we may wake up to hear some terrible news,” she said, adding that restrictions on visits by relatives and legal representatives had made it difficult for El-Rufai to prepare adequately for his defence.

She also expressed concern over her husband’s health, claiming he suffers from high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels but has been denied adequate access to his personal doctors.

The appeal came shortly after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar.

The anti-graft agency alleged that the doctor made false statements during an official medical consultation involving the former governor. The commission also accused El-Rufai of breaching the conditions attached to a court-approved medical visit while in its custody.

According to the ICPC, the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8 for the accelerated hearing of criminal charges against the former governor, but he failed to appear in court on the first day after insisting on seeing his personal physician before leaving the commission’s custody. The commission maintained that it facilitated the medical visit in compliance with a court order and in line with its obligation to protect the welfare of persons in custody.

However, Asiya questioned the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the physician and alleged that officials informed the family that the doctor could not have access to El-Rufai based on “orders from above.”

The family insisted that while they would continue to defend the former governor in court, they wanted the judicial process to remain transparent, fair and in accordance with the rule of law.

The emotional appeal has sparked reactions across the political landscape, with supporters urging the Federal Government to ensure due process, while others insist that the allegations against the former governor should be determined solely by the courts.

El-Rufai’s Wives Beg Tinubu for Fair Treatment, Say Family Is Traumatised