Asiya El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives what she described as his full constitutional rights while facing criminal charges, stressing that the family is not asking for the trial to be halted.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Asiya said the family’s concern is centred on ensuring that El-Rufai enjoys a fair hearing, access to medical care, legal representation, family visits and bail where applicable under Nigerian law.
Her comments come amid the ongoing prosecution of the former governor over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu. The case has also generated public debate over El-Rufai’s health and the recent arrest of his longtime personal physician.
According to Asiya, her husband is facing charges that are bailable under Nigerian law, but the conditions attached to the bail granted by one of the courts have made his release difficult. She explained that while the Federal High Court approved bail, it required two sureties with property worth ₦200 million each in Kaduna’s Government Reserved Area, along with an attestation from the Kaduna Traditional Council, which she said had proven impossible to obtain.
“We’re appealing to the President just to allow the law to take its course,” she said. “Give him a fair hearing. Allow the courts to be the arbiters.”
She also questioned why her husband was being treated as a flight risk, arguing that he had previously complied with court proceedings after being granted administrative bail by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in an earlier matter. While stopping short of accusing the judiciary of bias, she suggested that political considerations could be influencing opposition to his bail applications.
Addressing concerns over El-Rufai’s health, Asiya disclosed that authorities had permitted him to attend specialist eye appointments for glaucoma treatment but had denied him continued access to his longtime physician, Professor Bello, who she said has now been arrested. She argued that the development could discourage medical professionals from providing independent opinions in sensitive cases.
She also rejected allegations that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit to hold political meetings, insisting that the outing was solely for medical treatment and conducted under a court order granting him access to healthcare. According to her, any interactions with members of the public occurred because he is a well-known public figure.
Asiya warned against what she described as the “weaponisation” of healthcare, arguing that doctors should not face intimidation for treating patients or offering professional medical opinions. Neither the Presidency nor the prosecuting authorities had publicly responded to her latest remarks at the time of filing this report.
