Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Defence Minister, Christopher Musa, to withdraw alleged defamatory comments against him or face legal action.
El-Rufai is also demanding N10 billion from the minister as compensation over statements made during a Channels Television programme on September 3, 2026.
The demand was contained in a letter before action dated September 7 and signed by the former governor's lawyers, Chambers of Ubong Akpan. The letter was addressed to Musa at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
A copy of the letter was shared on Facebook by Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor.
The dispute arose from Musa's appearance on Politics Today, where the minister discussed insecurity in Kaduna State and made several allegations concerning El-Rufai's administration.
Among the statements attributed to Musa was an allegation that El-Rufai had “deliberately planned for the killing of our people.”
The minister was also quoted as saying, “He told us he paid bandits,” while another allegation concerned the demolition of houses allegedly ordered by the former governor.
El-Rufai's lawyers rejected the claims, describing them as false, damaging and defamatory.
According to the legal team, the statements conveyed the impression that their client was responsible for killings, sponsored banditry, persecuted individuals through unlawful demolitions and promoted ethnic and religious division in Kaduna State.
The lawyers said the combined effect of the allegations portrayed El-Rufai as “a criminal, a murderer, a sponsor of banditry, and a person of the most base and depraved character.”
Former governor denies allegations
The former governor's legal representatives insisted that there was no evidence establishing that El-Rufai had planned the killing of anyone in Southern Kaduna.
“No evidence has ever been produced to establish that our Client ‘deliberately planned’ the killing of any person,” they stated.
They similarly denied that El-Rufai paid bandits, noting that he had consistently maintained that he would not negotiate with or pay bandits.
The lawyers also defended demolitions carried out under the former governor, saying such actions were undertaken in accordance with the law and for legitimate public purposes.
They further rejected the suggestion that El-Rufai's government divided Kaduna State along ethnic or religious lines, arguing that his administration implemented policies designed to promote unity and development.
The legal team stressed that the allegations had not been tested or established by any court of competent jurisdiction and demanded strict proof from the minister.
Apology demanded
Beyond financial compensation, El-Rufai's lawyers demanded a public retraction and apology from the minister.
They want the retraction broadcast on Politics Today with prominence equal to or greater than that given to the original comments.
The lawyers also demanded publication of the apology in two nationally circulating newspapers, one with a principal readership in Northern Nigeria and another in Southern Nigeria.
They argued that Musa's position as Defence Minister and retired Army general gave his statements considerable public authority and therefore amplified the alleged damage to El-Rufai's reputation.
“Your statements carry particular weight and credibility in the eyes of the public,” the lawyers said.
They accused Musa of failing to properly verify the allegations before making them during the television interview.
Legal action threatened
El-Rufai's lawyers have also demanded access to the materials Musa relied upon in making the allegations.
These include documents, reports, communications, source materials and other records connected to the minister's appearance on the programme. They also requested preservation of recordings, transcripts and other relevant evidence.
The legal team further demanded a signed undertaking from Musa that he would not repeat, republish or cause the publication of the allegedly defamatory claims or substantially similar allegations.
On the N10 billion claim, the lawyers said the money was being demanded as compensation for the alleged injury to El-Rufai's reputation, distress and inconvenience.
They clarified that the sum was a settlement demand and not an amount already awarded by a court.
Musa has been given seven calendar days from the effective date of receipt of the letter to comply with the demands and 24 hours to acknowledge its receipt.
The lawyers warned that failure to respond could influence any subsequent court proceedings on issues including aggravated damages and whether the minister genuinely believed the statements to be true.
If no satisfactory resolution is reached, they said El-Rufai would consider seeking court orders for damages, injunctions against further publication, disclosure and preservation of evidence, interest and legal costs.
Leave a Reply