El-Rufai Family Gives Defence Minister 7 Days To Provide Evidence Or Retract Southern Kaduna Killings Allegation
The family of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, former FCT Minister, former Governor of Kaduna State and Opposition Leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has demanded that Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), provides evidence or retracts his allegations made on Channels Television.
In a statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai for and on behalf of the El-Rufai Family in Abuja on September 7, 2026, the family said it noted with serious concern the allegations made on 3 September 2026 during Politics Today on Channels Television.
During the programme, General Musa alleged that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as Governor.
“This grave allegation was made without the presentation of any evidence in support of the claim,” the family said, adding that while General Musa is entitled to hold personal opinions, the family is equally entitled to demand credible evidence.
“In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made. Accordingly, General Musa (Rtd.) is hereby given seven (7) days from the date of this statement to either provide evidence in support of his allegation or issue a full public retraction and apology.”
The family warned that failure will leave it with no option but to pursue all legal remedies.
The N10bn Legal Demand:
This family statement follows a formal Letter Before Action from The Chambers of Ubong Akpan dated 7th September 2026, addressed to General Christopher Gwabin Musa at Ship House, Abuja, and acknowledged by the Ministry of Defence on 07/09/26.
The 8-page letter details the words complained of verbatim from timestamps 28:35 to 49:03, including:
“Then unhappy we can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people.”
“He told us he paid for bandits”
“The next thing he sends a bulldozer to bulldoz your house down. He’s done it.”
“He told you he paid ransom. He told you he was the one who went to pay to bandits.”
El-Rufai’s lawyers argue the natural meaning portrays him as someone who deliberately planned killings in Southern Kaduna, orchestrated massacres, paid bandits and ransom, victimised opponents with demolitions, divided Kaduna along ethnic and religious lines, promoted divide-and-rule, and is unfit for public office after being “banned” by the Senate.
In falsity response, the lawyers said:
a) Deliberate planning of killings — never involved, no evidence ever produced, baseless.
b) Payment of bandits — has consistently maintained he would neither negotiate nor pay bandits.
c) Demolition — any demolitions were in accordance with law and for public purposes, not personal vendetta.
d) Division — denies dividing state, says policies promoted unity.
e) No judicial finding — none tested in court.
Demands listed in Section J:
19.1 Immediate retraction and apology on Politics Today with the same or greater prominence, plus in two national dailies (one Northern, one Southern), in wording approved by El-Rufai’s solicitors.
19.2 Written confirmation of compliance.
19.3 Preservation of evidence and litigation hold — all recordings, transcripts, notes, source materials, communications with Channels TV.
19.4 Full disclosure of every source, document, report, correspondence and data on reach, views, shares and engagement.
19.5 Signed undertaking not to repeat.
19.6 Compensation — N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Naira) as settlement for injury to reputation, distress and inconvenience.
19.7 Nomination of solicitors for service.
The lawyers said the broadcast remains accessible on terrestrial, satellite and online platforms and is actionable as libel. They cited aggravating features including publication with knowledge of falsity or recklessness, position of authority as Defence Minister and retired General causing greater damage, failure to verify, sensationalism and timing, global amplification, prejudice to pending criminal proceedings before Federal High Courts, and exploitation of office.
They gave 24 hours to acknowledge receipt via principal@chambersakpan.law and 7 calendar days by 4pm WAT to respond substantively, warning silence may be relied upon for aggravated damages.
