By Sabiu Abdullahi
The wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in what they described as their family’s ordeal, following recent developments in the corruption case involving the former governor.
One of his wives, Asiya el-Rufai, made the appeal in Abuja on Tuesday while reacting to the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, el-Rufai’s personal physician, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Addressing journalists alongside another wife of the former governor, Aichatou, Asiya said the family was not asking the president to stop the ongoing prosecution or interfere with the judicial process. Instead, she said they wanted el-Rufai to enjoy the constitutional rights available to every Nigerian, including access to medical care, family members, legal counsel and bail on reasonable terms.
Recalling their support for Tinubu during the 2023 presidential election, Asiya 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?”
She also appealed directly to the president, saying, “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.”
Asiya maintained that the family was not asking for special treatment.
She said, “Please let him go free. 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.”
She added, “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.”
Asiya also alleged that the former governor, whom she said suffers from high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels, had not received adequate medical attention.
According to her, the family’s emotional condition has worsened because of his continued detention and the restrictions placed on access to him.
She said, “We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news.”
She further alleged, “I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and against his family.”
Asiya added, “If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Mallam.”
She also questioned the reported restriction placed on the former governor’s physician, saying, “We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?”
The family further expressed concern over what they described as increasing restrictions on visits by relatives. They also called for an investigation into the medical report reportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, through the consultant whose name appeared on the document.
Asiya argued that the restrictions had affected el-Rufai’s ability to prepare his defence.
She said, “We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard.”
She continued, “Mallam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers.”
Repeating the family’s appeal, she said, “We are only asking that he be given the basic human rights guaranteed by the constitution. Let him be granted bail on reasonable terms. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide.”
