The wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure that her husband receives fair treatment as he faces criminal prosecution, saying the family deserves basic courtesy from the administration after supporting Tinubu’s emergence as president.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Asiya, a lawyer, stressed that the family was not asking the President to interfere with the judicial process but wanted assurance that El-Rufai’s constitutional rights would be protected throughout the proceedings.
She recalled the role her husband played in backing Tinubu’s presidential ambition, noting that the former governor made significant political sacrifices in support of the President.
“My husband supported President Tinubu because he believed in him. He stood by him despite opposition, and I also campaigned for him. It is only natural to expect basic courtesy from someone you have done so much for,” she said.
Asiya acknowledged that the President could not halt court proceedings but argued that he has the authority to ensure that government agencies act within the law.
“The President may not have the power to stop the case, but he has the power to direct officials to do the right thing,” she stated.
She called for El-Rufai to be granted access to adequate medical care, legal counsel, family visits, and bail under reasonable conditions.
Questioning the repeated denial of bail, Asiya noted that the former governor had previously been granted bail on self-recognition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and had consistently honoured court appearances. She expressed concern over claims by prosecutors that he posed a flight risk, suggesting there could be political considerations behind the decision.
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On her husband’s health, she disclosed that El-Rufai, who suffers from glaucoma, had been taken to eye clinics but was denied access to his longtime physician, Professor Bello, who has since been arrested. She described the development as the politicisation of healthcare, warning that it could discourage medical professionals from providing independent medical opinions.
She also dismissed allegations that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit for political meetings, explaining that he merely exchanged greetings with individuals who approached him in a public reception area after his consultation.
Asiya urged the government to uphold due process and respect the rule of law, warning that actions perceived as unfair could weaken public confidence in the justice system and encourage instability.
She further rejected claims that her husband poses a political threat, insisting that democracy should allow political competition rather than suppress it.
“Why don’t they let him go and see whether he’s actually a threat or not?” she asked.
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