Health System Misuse Could Scare Doctors, Increase Brain Drain, El-Rufai’s Wife

Asiya El-Rufai, wife of the former Kaduna State Governor, has said the supposed misuse of healthcare linked to her husband's prosecution could scare doctors and worsen Nigeria's brain drain problem.

Mrs El-Rufai, a lawyer, shared her thoughts during an interview on ARISE NEWS. She reacted to the arrest of her husband’s personal doctor, Bello Abubakar. She believes this arrest goes beyond her husband’s trial and sets a bad example that might stop doctors from making independent medical decisions.

She said doctors should be able to provide care without worrying about harassment or threats. She warned that such actions might push more Nigerian healthcare workers to leave the country for better working conditions.

Mrs El-Rufai explained that her husband has glaucoma and has been treated at various clinics. She claimed that officials did not allow him to see Mr Abubakar, who has been his doctor for many years, even during his time as the Director-General of the former Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).

She also denied claims that her husband’s recent hospital visit was a cover for political meetings. She insisted the visit was only for medical reasons and followed a court order that allowed him to access healthcare freely.

“The court directive was very clear: he should have unfettered access to healthcare. The ICPC is interpreting the order too narrowly,” she said.

She mentioned that the family set the appointment for 5 p.m. to reduce contact with other patients. Regarding the idea that the visit allowed for political discussions, Mrs El-Rufai pointed out that her husband had no phone access while in custody. She added that any interactions at the hospital were by chance, as people recognized her husband as a public figure. These exchanges were spontaneous and not planned.

Mr El-Rufai is now facing several criminal charges. In a case from the ICPC, he has pleaded not guilty to claims of abuse of office, fraud, money laundering, and procurement-related issues.

The anti-corruption agency says that while he was the governor of Kaduna, Mr El-Rufai approved a contract for a CCTV surveillance system in Kaduna at a cost of ₦8.68 billion. The ICPC claims the contract went to Singularity Network Security Limited, even though the company lacked the necessary experience, and that the funds were later laundered. Mr El-Rufai has denied these claims.

He is also facing another federal case over the alleged illegal interception of phone calls. PREMIUM TIMES reported on Wednesday that Mr El-Rufai, through his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye, accused the ICPC of misrepresenting facts about the court order and his medical treatment.

Mrs El-Rufai’s comments shine a light on the ongoing issue of Nigeria’s healthcare worker shortage. The country has seen many doctors, nurses, and health professionals migrate to the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, and Australia in search of better pay and conditions. Many have warned that this migration puts pressure on Nigeria's healthcare system, increases the workload for those who stay, and reduces access to quality care for the public.