The wives of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in what they described as their family’s ongoing ordeal, following the arrest of the former minister’s personal physician by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
Speaking on behalf of the family in Abuja on Tuesday, Asiya el-Rufai, flanked by Aichatou el-Rufai, said they were not asking the President to stop the prosecution of her husband but to ensure that his constitutional rights are respected.
“We are not asking you to interfere with the judicial process,” she said. “We are only asking that he be allowed the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including access to medical care, his family, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms.”
Addressing President Tinubu directly, Asiya recalled the support she and her husband gave during the 2023 presidential election campaign.
“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 asked.
She urged the President to use his influence to ease the family’s plight.
“The ball is in your court, Mr. President. All these can stop if you say a word. We believe you are a father and can empathise with us,” she said.
Asiya maintained that the family was not seeking preferential treatment but a fair legal process.
“Please let him go free. I am not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him. Let him have the bail he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide; if he is innocent, let the court decide,” she added.
She further alleged that el-Rufai, who she said suffers from high blood pressure and fluctuating blood sugar levels, has been denied adequate medical care while in custody.
The appeal comes after the ICPC announced the arrest of Dr. Bello Abubakar, el-Rufai’s personal physician, alleging that both men abused official privileges and violated a court order relating to the former governor’s medical consultation.
