Former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai is asking for a public apology and ₦10 billion from the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa. This comes after Musa accused El-Rufai of planning killings in Southern Kaduna.
El-Rufai’s lawyers sent an eight-page letter dated Monday, 7 September. They gave the minister seven days to prove his claims or take them back.
A copy of the letter has an acknowledgment stamp from the Ministry of Defence dated 7 September. The letter was shared along with a statement from the El-Rufai family.
The statement was signed by El-Rufai’s son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, on behalf of the family. While the family focused on the seven-day ultimatum, the letter from the Chambers of Ubong Akpan included more demands.
The lawyers want Musa to take back his comments made on Channels Television’s Politics Today. They also want him to apologize in the same way the original statements were made.
They asked for the retraction to be published in two major newspapers, one popular in northern Nigeria and another in the south. Other requests include keeping all recordings, notes, and evidence related to the interview.
They also want Musa to provide proof for his claims and promise not to repeat the allegations unless he has evidence.
The lawyers are asking for ₦10 billion as compensation for damage to El-Rufai’s reputation and the distress caused by the broadcast. They noted that this amount is a proposed settlement and is not damages awarded by any court.
If the minister does not respond satisfactorily within the seven days, the lawyers said they would take legal action for defamation and seek damages and injunctions.
Musa made the accusation during his appearance on Politics Today on 3 September. When asked if people in Southern Kaduna were unhappy with El-Rufai, he replied, “We can never be happy with somebody who deliberately planned for the killing of our people.”
When the presenter, Seun Okinbaloye, called the claim serious, Musa said, “Definitely,” and pointed to videos and speeches where he claimed El-Rufai said he had paid bandits.
Musa did not mention any specific report or incident that showed El-Rufai planned killings. He also accused El-Rufai of causing division in Kaduna State and demolishing houses due to personal issues.
El-Rufai’s lawyers denied these claims and said none of them were proven in court. The family stated that the accusation of planning killings was made without any evidence.
They said, “In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made.” They warned that they would use “all appropriate legal remedies” if Musa did not provide evidence or apologize within the seven days.
The lawyers also denied Musa’s claim that El-Rufai paid bandits. They pointed to historical facts.
In 2016, while he was governor, El-Rufai said his government spoke to leaders of some Fulani groups from neighboring West African countries after violence linked to the 2011 elections. He mentioned that some groups asked for compensation for cattle they claimed to have lost, and some payments were made to stop further attacks.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that El-Rufai later opposed paying ransoms or negotiating with bandits. His 2016 comments confirm compensation payments were made, but they do not support Musa’s claim that El-Rufai planned killings.
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