Demands Review of Bail Conditions
- Safiu Kehinde
Asiya El-Rufai, the wife of former Kaduna state governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, has pleaded for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention over the continued detention of her husband by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
She made the plea while speaking in an interview with AIT on Wednesday.
Asiya, who was allegedly assaulted yesterday with her husband’s physician arrested during a clash with ICPC officials at the National Hospital in Abuja.
NPO Reported that the ICPC had arrested El-Rufai’s doctor few hours after bringing the embattled ex-Kaduna governor to the hospital for medical checkup.
The commission, in a statement issued earlier today, alleged that the doctor had deceived its officials as the medical visit was allegedly arranged for a political meeting between El-Rufai and his associates.
ICPC also debunked claim of assaulted Asiya as he maintained that its official acted professionally during the encounter.
While the doctor had since been detained with El-Rufai returned to custody, Asiya would on Wednesday appear on TV to plead with Tinubu as she demanded fair trial and access to basic human rights for her husband.
Asiya reminded Tinubu of how she and her husband supported and worked for his presidential ambition while also demanding review of the bail conditions set by the court for El-Rufai’s release.
“I ask the President, Mr. President Sir, I campaigned for you. I stood up for you. I went to every nook and cranny of Kaduna state for you. My husband stood by your side. Is this what our family deserves?
“The ball is your court Mr. President. All these can stop if you say the word. I believe that you are a father and you can empathise. Please let him go.
“I’m not asking you to tell them not to prosecute him. I’m just asking you to allow him basic human rights that the constitution you swore to uphold.
“Let them give him a bail he can afford. If he is guilty, let the court decides. If he is innocent, let the court decides.” She said.
Earlier, Asiya harped on the need to release the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to enable him to prepare for his defence.
“We don’t shy away from defending ourselves. But we want a fair trial We want an opportunity to be heard.
“Mallam cannot prepare for his defense when he is locked up, and his lawyers are given certain conditions to see him.
“When the lawyers come, they will tell you that oh only one lawyer can see him at a time. There is always one excuse or the other.
“How will he defend himself if he is incarcerated? These offences that they are alleging against him are all bailable offences.” She said.
Th wife of the former Kaduna governor reiterated her call for the review of the bail condition of fair treatment of her husband.
“The constitution guarantees that, but the bail conditions have become so onerous that everyone knows that it is impossible in the Nigeria of today for him to be able to fulfil that.
“I want to demand that Mallam be treated fairly. He should be released on terms that are durable. He should be allowed access to his doctors.” She said.