Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Bornet .k
The wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Hajiya Asiya El-Rufai, has appealed to the international community over her husband’s continued detention, describing his 150 days in custody without trial as a major test of Nigeria’s commitment to the rule of law.
In a statement released on Thursday, 16 July 2026, Asiya said her appeal was not driven by politics or legal arguments but by her experience as a wife and mother affected by the prolonged detention. She said the human consequences of keeping someone in custody for months before trial should not be ignored.
“One hundred and fifty days is not a legal phrase. It is five months of missed meals, missed prayers, missed proper mourning of his deceased mother, missed family conversations, interrupted medical care and moments we can never recover,” she said.
Nasir El-Rufai, who served as governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, was arrested on 16 February 2026 and has remained in custody while facing criminal allegations. He was briefly released for three days in March to attend the burial of his mother before being returned to detention.
The former governor is facing trial over allegations including the unlawful interception of telephone communications belonging to National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, as well as accusations bordering on abuse of office, money laundering and corruption. El-Rufai has denied wrongdoing and has maintained his innocence.
In her statement, Asiya stressed that she was not demanding special treatment or immunity for her husband. Instead, she called for what she described as a fair and transparent judicial process, arguing that prolonged detention before conviction could amount to punishment before a court has determined guilt.
“If the state believes it has evidence, let it be presented before an impartial court, openly and fairly,” she said, urging authorities to allow the legal process to determine the matter.
The former governor’s wife also raised concerns about his health, stating that El-Rufai suffers from high blood pressure and high blood sugar. She alleged that he became seriously ill while in custody, including experiencing bleeding from his nose and mouth, and claimed he had been denied access to his personal doctor.
Asiya further disclosed that several bail applications had been filed on behalf of her husband. She said although one court granted bail, the conditions attached to the order, including the requirement for two sureties valued at ₦200 million each and approval from the Kaduna Traditional Council, had made it difficult for him to secure release.
She argued that political disagreements should not influence the treatment of any citizen under the law. Recalling the 2023 presidential election campaign, Asiya said she and her husband supported President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, but political differences should not affect the application of justice.
“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 guarantees,” she said.
Legal analysts have continued to debate the issue of prolonged pre-trial detention in Nigeria, with some expressing concern that keeping defendants in custody for extended periods could weaken public confidence in the justice system. Nigeria’s Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, while many offences allow defendants to apply for bail.
The case involving the former Kaduna governor has attracted attention within Nigeria’s political circles, with supporters calling for due process and critics insisting that allegations of corruption and abuse of office must be fully investigated through the courts.
As the legal proceedings continue, the El-Rufai family and supporters are urging authorities to ensure that the former governor’s constitutional rights are protected while allowing the judiciary to determine the outcome of the case.
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