Aichatou and Asiya, two of the wives of former Kaduna governor Nasir El-Rufai on Tuesday appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to end what they described as “psychological warfare” against their family.
The wives said this on Thursday while reacting to the arrest of Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to El-Rufai by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).
In a statement on Tuesday, Okor Odey, ICPC spokesperson, alleged that el-Rufai and Bello abused privileges and violated a court order regarding his medical consultation.
Speaking to journalists and flanked by another wife of the former minister, Aichatou, Asiya said the family is not asking Tinubu to interfere with the judicial process or halt the prosecution of their husband.
She said they are only seeking the constitutional rights guaranteed to every Nigerian, including access to medical care, family members, lawyers and bail on reasonable terms.
Addressing the president directly, Asiya recalled the role she and her husband played during Tinubu’s 2023 presidential 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 urged Tinubu to intervene, saying the decision ultimately rests with him.
“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,” she said.
Asiya insisted that the family is not asking for preferential treatment.
“Please let him go free. 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 you swore to uphold and defend guarantees,” she said.
“Let them give him the bail that he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decide; if he is innocent, let the court decide.”
According to the family, the restrictions imposed on El-Rufai in ICPC custody have made it difficult for him to prepare his defence.
“We do not shy away from defending ourselves, but we want a fair trial. We want an opportunity to be heard.
“Mallam cannot adequately prepare for his defence while he remains in custody and has limited access to his lawyers.”
She said El-Rufai shuld be granted bail on conditions he can reasonably meet pending the conclusion of his trial.
“We are only asking that he be given the basic human rights guaranteed by the constitution. Let him be granted bail on reasonable terms. If he is guilty, let the court decide. If he is innocent, let the court also decide,” she added.
Asiya also claimed that the family of the former governor has been living in fear about what may happened to him in custody of ICPC because of his medical condition.
She claimed that despite having high blood pressure and sugar levels, the former governor has been denied access to adequate medical care.
This, she said, has left the family traumatised.
“We, the family, are traumatised. We live in constant fear that we will wake up and hear some bad news,” she said.
“I honestly think that what they are doing is more about psychological warfare against Mallam and against his family.
“If they humiliate us, dehumanise us and put us in constant fear, they feel that affects Mallam.”
Asiya also claimed that the decision to deny her husband access to his doctor by ICPC resulted from orders from the above.
“We were told that orders from ‘above’ said Professor Bello Abubakar cannot have access to anybody for 24 hours. Who is the ‘above’?” she queried.
She added that relatives are also being denied access to the former governor.
Asiya also called for probe of a medical report purportedly issued by the National Hospital Abuja which was recently used to deny their husband bail by a Kaduna High Court.
According to her, the document and the circumstances surrounding its issuance should be investigated through the consultant whose name appeared on it.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) had earlier claimed that El-Rufai was denied access to medical care by officials of in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
The party said El-Rufai was taken to the National Hospital, Abuja, for medical attention but was returned to custody despite recommendation by doctors that he should be admitted.
The party also said protests by El-Rufai’s wife and personal physician led to a confrontation during which his wife was assaulted and the doctor arrested.