Healthcare Being Weaponised, El-Rufai’s Wife Laments Arrest of Husband’s Doctor

Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has criticised the arrest of her husband’s personal physician, describing the development as an attempt to weaponise healthcare and intimidate medical professionals.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS, the lawyer said the detention of Professor Bello Abubakar extends beyond her husband’s legal challenges and raises broader concerns about the independence of medical practitioners in Nigeria.

She argued that doctors should be free to provide professional medical opinions without fear of harassment or arrest, warning that any action perceived as intimidation could further worsen the country’s medical workforce crisis.

According to her, professionals may become reluctant to carry out their responsibilities if they believe they could face consequences for treating certain patients.

“The fact that we are weaponising healthcare. If doctors become afraid to offer opinions, what does it say? It is not about Nasir El-Rufai anymore. It is about professionals being muzzled,” she said.

Asiya disclosed that her husband had previously received treatment for glaucoma at specialist eye clinics but claimed that authorities had prevented him from consulting his preferred physician.

She added that Professor Bello had served as El-Rufai’s personal doctor since his days as Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises.

The former governor’s wife also rejected claims that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit to hold political meetings, insisting that the visit was solely for medical consultation in line with a court order granting him access to healthcare.

She explained that the appointment was deliberately scheduled for the evening to reduce public attention, adding that any interaction with visitors at the hospital occurred openly in the reception area after the consultation.

According to her, El-Rufai had no access to a telephone while in custody and therefore could not have arranged meetings with political associates.

She maintained that any conversations he had at the hospital were incidental and took place in a public setting rather than during a private gathering.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had not publicly responded to Asiya El-Rufai’s allegations regarding the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar or her claims concerning access to her husband’s preferred medical care.