ABUJA, Nigeria — Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, wife of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has made a passionate appeal to President Bola Tinubu for fair treatment of her husband, who has been in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) since February 19.
In a heartfelt statement released on Tuesday, Asia El-Rufai recounted her family’s political sacrifices, reminding the President that she had actively campaigned for him during the 2023 presidential election and had urged Nigerians to vote for him. “I took the risk of campaigning for you. I stood by you when many doubted. Now I am begging you — grant my husband fair treatment and allow him access to justice and dignity,” she said.
The former first lady of Kaduna State expressed deep concern over her husband’s health and emotional state, describing the past months as a traumatic period for their family. “My husband has been denied basic rights. He is a human being with a family and health issues. This is not about politics; this is about fairness and humanity,” she stated.
El-Rufai was taken into custody by the ICPC on February 19, 2026, and has been held since then. On April 13, 2026, the anti-graft agency arraigned him before a Kaduna High Court on an amended nine-count charge bordering on alleged fraud and abuse of office. He has remained in detention while the case progresses, and the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, recently revealed that the bail conditions attached to El-Rufai’s release are stringent, requiring guarantees from highly placed individuals, including the endorsement of both an emir and a senior government official.
Asia El-Rufai expressed gratitude to those who have shown concern for her husband’s welfare but stressed that the family’s trauma was deepening and that the denial of fundamental rights had become unbearable. She called on the President to intervene and ensure that the judicial process is fair, impartial, and transparent.
The appeal involves Hajiya Asia El-Rufai, her husband Nasir El-Rufai, President Bola Tinubu, and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission. The El-Rufai family has been at the centre of a high-profile anti-corruption case that has drawn national attention.
Asia El-Rufai publicly appealed to President Tinubu for fair treatment of her husband, citing the family’s political support during the 2023 presidential election and the alleged denial of her husband’s basic rights, including access to adequate healthcare and fair bail conditions.
The appeal was made on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, following El-Rufai’s continued detention since February 19, 2026, and his recent arraignment on April 13, 2026, on fraud-related charges.
The detention and legal proceedings are centred in Kaduna and Abuja, with El-Rufai held by the ICPC and the case ongoing at the Kaduna High Court.
The appeal highlights the tension between the government’s anti-corruption efforts and the rights of detainees, particularly concerning fair treatment, access to bail, and the role of political loyalty in judicial processes.
The El-Rufai family argues that the bail conditions are excessively stringent, that the former governor’s health is deteriorating, and that the case may be politically motivated, while the ICPC maintains its investigation is based on evidence.
The case affects the El-Rufai family, the Nigerian political landscape, and public confidence in the anti-corruption institutions, as it raises questions about the fairness of the judicial process for high-profile political figures.
Asia El-Rufai issued a public statement, directly appealing to President Tinubu and urging him to grant her husband fair treatment, allow him access to proper healthcare, and ensure that he is not subjected to unnecessarily harsh bail conditions.
As of press time, the Presidency and the ICPC had not issued official responses to the appeal. The case continues to attract widespread attention from political observers, civil society organisations, and human rights advocates, many of whom are watching closely to see whether the appeal will influence the treatment of the former governor.
