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From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The wife of former Kaduna State governor, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has sent a strong petition and emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu, informing him that her husband does not deserve the maltreatment his administration is meting out to him after the support and efforts he gave to him during the 2023 presidential campaign and election.
She claimed that the efforts of the family during the election contributed to his victory, pleading for fair treatment to the detained husband and former Kaduna governor.
Flanked by Aichatou, El-Rufai’s other wife, while reacting to the arrest of her husband’s personal physician, Prof Bello Abubakar, as confirmed by the ICPC, Hajia Asiya, claimed that her husband, diagnosed with high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels, was denied access to medical treatment.
Speaking with newsmen at her residence in Abuja, she said that the family was not asking the President to interfere with El-Rufai’s judicial process or halt the prosecution, but to ensure that he enjoys the constitutional rights available to every Nigerian, including access to medical care, family members, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms.
In an emotional message directed at President Tinubu, she recalled the sacrifices she and her husband made for the President during the 2023 electioneering campaign, noting: “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,” she appealed.
While appealing for compassion, Asiya disclosed that the family was not seeking special treatment or political interference in the legal process, pleading: “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. 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 quipped.
She alleged that El-Rufai’s continued detention and the restrictions placed on access to his doctors and relatives had left the family traumatised and living in fear, emphasising: “We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news.”
While describing the situation as psychological pressure on both her husband and the family, she added: “I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Malam and against his family. If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that it affects Malam.”
Asiya also questioned the reported decision to deny El-Rufai’s personal physician access to him, stating: “We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Prof Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?” she queried rhetorically.
The family further alleged that El-Rufai had been denied regular access to his personal doctors, while visits by relatives had become increasingly restricted. They also expressed concern over a medical report purportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, raising questions surrounding the document’s authenticity.
She also said that the circumstances under which it was issued should be properly investigated through the consultant whose name appeared on it, stressing that the restrictions have made it difficult for the former governor to prepare his defence adequately.
“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We would like to be heard. Malam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers,” she stressed.
The family further appealed that El-Rufai be granted bail on conditions he could reasonably meet pending the conclusion of his trial, insisting that the courts should be allowed to determine his guilt or innocence.
“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,” she said.
