“We campaigned for you, is this what our family deserves?” – El-Rufai’s wife cries out to Tinubu

Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives a fair trial, insisting that her family deserves justice after supporting the President during the 2023 election campaign.

Speaking on Tuesday at the family’s Abuja residence alongside El-Rufai’s other wife, Aichatou, Asia said they were not asking the President to interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings but to ensure that the former governor enjoys the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian.

Her appeal came hours after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) announced the arrest of El-Rufai’s personal physician, Prof. Bello Abubakar, over alleged false statements linked to the former governor’s court-approved medical visit while in custody.

Asia also alleged that her husband, who she said is battling high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar, had been denied adequate medical care.

Recalling the family’s support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, she said:

“Mr President, Sir, I campaigned for you. I stood up and went to every nook and cranny of Kaduna State for you. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?

“The ball is in your court, Mr President. All these can stop if you say a word. We believe that you are a father, and we know you can empathise.”

Asia stressed that the family was not seeking political interference in the trial but only asking that El-Rufai be treated in accordance with the law.

“Please, I am not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him, but we are asking you to allow him the basic human rights that the Constitution you swore to uphold and defend guarantees.

“Let them give him the bail that he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court decide.”

She alleged that El-Rufai’s continued detention, coupled with limited access to doctors, lawyers and family members, had left the family traumatised.

“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news.

“I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and his family. If they humiliate, dehumanise and put us in constant fear, they feel it affects him.”

Asia also questioned the reported decision to deny El-Rufai’s personal physician access to him.

“We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?” she asked.

The family further claimed that restrictions had affected El-Rufai’s ability to prepare his defence and urged the authorities to grant him bail on reasonable conditions pending the conclusion of his trial.

According to Asia, they are not opposed to the judicial process but want it conducted fairly.

“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard. Mallam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers.”

The appeal follows a statement by the ICPC alleging that El-Rufai breached the conditions of a court-approved medical visit while in custody and confirming the arrest of his personal physician over alleged false statements connected with the visit.

The anti-graft agency also stated that the Kaduna State High Court had fixed July 6, 7 and 8, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of the criminal charges against the former governor but alleged that he declined to appear in court on the first day after insisting on consulting his personal doctor.

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