Asiya El-Rufai Urges Tinubu to Ensure Fair Treatment for Former Kaduna Governor

Asiya El-Rufai, the wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure her husband receives fair treatment while facing ongoing criminal prosecution.

Speaking during an interview on ARISE NEWS, the lawyer said the family is not requesting that the President halt the judicial process but wants assurance that El-Rufai's constitutional rights will be protected throughout the trial.

According to Asiya, her husband strongly supported Tinubu's presidential ambition, and she also actively campaigned for him during the election.

She said it is reasonable to expect fairness and basic courtesy from an administration that benefited from their political support.

"My husband supported President Tinubu because he's an honourable man. He fought everyone, he even fought President Buhari. I personally went and campaigned for him."

While acknowledging that the President cannot interfere with court proceedings, Asiya argued that Tinubu has the authority to direct government agencies to comply with the law and uphold due process.

"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 the family's primary demands include access to proper medical care, legal representation, family visits and bail on reasonable terms.

Asiya questioned why her husband has repeatedly been denied bail despite previously being granted bail on self-recognition by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and consistently appearing before the court whenever required.

She suggested that the prosecution's argument that El-Rufai is a flight risk raises concerns about the handling of the case.

Speaking on his health, Asiya disclosed that the former governor suffers from glaucoma and has been taken to eye clinics but was allegedly denied access to his longtime physician, Professor Bello, who she said has since been arrested.

She described the situation as the "weaponising" of healthcare and warned that it could discourage medical professionals from offering independent medical opinions.

Asiya also dismissed allegations that El-Rufai used a recent hospital visit to hold political meetings, explaining that he merely greeted people who approached him in a public reception area after his medical consultation.

She urged the government to uphold the rule of law and ensure that justice is administered fairly, warning that any erosion of public confidence in the judicial system could have serious consequences for democracy.

Rejecting claims that her husband poses a political threat, she argued that democracy should allow political competition rather than suppress it.

"Why don't they let him go and see whether he's actually a threat or not?"

Asiya maintained that the family's appeal is rooted in the desire for fairness, due process and respect for constitutional rights as the legal proceedings continue.