Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that the family is not seeking to halt the criminal proceedings against her husband but is demanding that he be allowed to enjoy his constitutional rights, including access to medical care, legal representation, family visits, and bail on reasonable terms. Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Asiya, who is also a lawyer, clarified that the family's appeal was limited to ensuring that El-Rufai receives fair treatment under the law.
The appeal comes amid growing controversy over the prosecution of the former governor, who is facing trial over allegations of unlawfully intercepting the telephone communications of National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu. The family's intervention was also prompted by the arrest of El-Rufai's personal physician, Professor Bello Abubakar, by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), which confirmed the arrest on Tuesday.
In an emotional message directed at President Tinubu, Asiya recalled the sacrifices she and her husband made for the President during the 2023 electioneering campaign. “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?” she asked. She continued: “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”.
While appealing for compassion, Asiya stressed that the family was not seeking special treatment or political interference in the legal process. “We are not asking you to stop the prosecution. We are only asking that he be allowed to enjoy the basic human rights guaranteed by the Constitution, including access to medical care, his family, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms,” she said.
Asiya expressed frustration over the bail conditions imposed on her husband, describing them as unattainable. She explained that El-Rufai had applied for bail several times in different courts. In the High Court, he was denied bail. In the Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna, Justice Ekwo granted him bail with two sureties of N200 million each, with property worth N200 million in GRA Kaduna, and also required an attestation from the Traditional Council of Kaduna State. “Now, efforts to get this became impossible. The Traditional Council would not give that attestation,” she said.
She questioned why her husband was being treated as a flight risk despite previously complying with court processes. “After he left the office of the minister, the EFCC actually gave him bail on his self-recognizance, and the trial went on. He was there at every sitting, and he was vindicated. So, I honestly don't know where this fear of giving him bail is coming from,” she stated. While declining to directly accuse the judiciary of bias, she suggested that political considerations may be influencing the opposition to his bail applications. “I don't want to speculate, but as a Nigerian, as a human being, I don't think it is wrong if I say there must be some politics going on,” she added.
On El-Rufai's health, Asiya disclosed that he is being treated for high blood pressure and elevated blood sugar levels but has been denied access to his longtime personal physician. She alleged that although authorities had allowed him to visit eye clinics for glaucoma treatment, they had prevented his personal doctor, Professor Bello, from seeing him. She questioned the reported decision to deny the physician access, asking: “We were told that orders from 'above' said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the 'above'?”.
Asiya also rejected claims that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit to hold political meetings, insisting that the outing was strictly for medical treatment and conducted in line with a court order granting him access to healthcare. She argued that the ICPC was interpreting the court order too narrowly and called for an investigation into a medical report reportedly issued by the National Hospital, Abuja, questioning its authenticity and the circumstances surrounding its release.
The family described their ordeal as emotionally draining, saying the restrictions on access to the former governor had left them living in fear. “We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news,” she said. She described the situation as psychological warfare against both her husband and the family. “If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Malam,” she added.
Asiya maintained that the restrictions imposed on El-Rufai have hindered his ability to prepare adequately for his defence. “We want a fair trial. Malam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers,” she said. She urged the President to intervene to ensure that El-Rufai is granted bail if he meets the legal requirements. “If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide. Please let him have the rights every Nigerian is entitled to,” she pleaded.
The appeal has drawn reactions from political figures, including 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, who called for fair treatment and due process in the prosecution of El-Rufai. In a post on X, Obi said he was “deeply moved” by Asiya's emotional appeal and stressed that “justice must be transparent and fair, with reasonable bail conditions that should not be seen as punitive before trial”. He urged law enforcement agencies to adhere strictly to due process and warned against selective justice that could erode public trust. “Let us strive for a Nigeria where the law is paramount, and where every citizen is guaranteed dignity and justice,” Obi said.
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