Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives fair treatment as he faces ongoing criminal prosecution.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, the legal practitioner said 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 said the family’s support for Tinubu’s presidential bid made it reasonable to expect fairness and respect from the current administration.
According to Asiya, “I know what we went through. My husband supported President Tinubu because he’s an honourable man. He fought everyone, he even fought President Buhari. So yes, I brought it up because it is normal to expect basic courtesy from somebody that you’ve done so much for. I personally went and campaigned for him.”
She acknowledged that the President does not have the authority to halt judicial proceedings but argued that he could ensure government agencies comply with the law.
“The President may not have the power to stop anything, but he has the power to tell them to do the right thing,” she said.
Asiya stated that the family’s requests were limited to ensuring El-Rufai has access to adequate medical care, legal representation, family visits and bail under reasonable conditions.
She questioned why her husband had repeatedly been denied bail despite previously being granted bail on self-recognition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and consistently honouring his court appearances.
She suggested that the continued refusal of bail raised concerns, noting that prosecutors had described him as a potential flight risk.
On his health, Asiya disclosed that El-Rufai, who is living with glaucoma, had been taken to eye clinics but had been denied access to his longtime physician, Professor Bello, who she said had since been arrested.
She described the situation as the “weaponising” of healthcare, warning that it could discourage medical professionals from offering independent opinions.
She also dismissed allegations that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit to hold political meetings, explaining that he merely interacted with individuals who approached him in a public reception area after receiving medical attention.
Asiya urged the government to uphold due process and protect the rule of law, warning that undermining public confidence in the justice system could have serious consequences for the country.
She further rejected suggestions that her husband poses a political threat, arguing that democracy should allow political competition rather than suppress dissent.
“Why don’t they let him go and see whether he’s actually a threat or not?” she asked.
