Does Our Family Deserve This After Campaigning for You — El-Rufai’s Wife Asks Tinubu

The wife of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure her husband enjoys his constitutional rights while facing prosecution.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday alongside El-Rufai’s second wife, Aichatou, Asiya clarified that the family was not asking the President to interfere with the legal proceedings but to ensure the former governor receives fair treatment in line with the law.

Her appeal comes amid growing controversy surrounding El-Rufai’s detention and the arrest of his personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

According to Asiya, her husband, who is receiving treatment for high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar, has been denied adequate medical care while in custody.

She urged the President to ensure El-Rufai is granted access to medical treatment, his family, legal representatives and bail where applicable under the law.

“We are not asking you to stop the prosecution. We are only asking that he be allowed to enjoy the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including access to medical care, his family, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms,” she said.

Asiya also reminded President Tinubu of the political support she and her husband gave him during the 2023 presidential election campaign.

“Mr. President, I campaigned for you across Kaduna State. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?” she asked.

She stressed that the courts should determine El-Rufai’s guilt or innocence, insisting that the family only seeks a fair judicial process.

The former governor’s wife further alleged that restrictions placed on family visits have caused emotional distress, saying the family lives in constant fear over his wellbeing.

She also questioned why El-Rufai’s personal doctor was allegedly denied unrestricted access to him and called for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding a medical report reportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja.

According to Asiya, El-Rufai’s continued detention has made it difficult for him to adequately prepare his defence, urging authorities to uphold due process and ensure justice is served in accordance with the Constitution.