…threatens serious action, if….
By Yusuf Yakassi
The family of Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has given the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), seven days to provide evidence or publicly retract allegations that the former Kaduna State governor “actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna” while in office.
In a statement released in Abuja on September 7, 2026 and signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the El-Rufais described the claim made by General Musa during a live broadcast of Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, 2026 as “grave” and “unsubstantiated.”
According to the family, the Defence Minister made the allegation without presenting any supporting evidence during the programme.
“This grave allegation was made without the presentation of any evidence in support of the claim,” the statement read.
“While General Musa (Rtd.) is entitled to hold and express his personal opinions, the El-Rufai family is equally entitled to demand that such serious allegations be substantiated with credible evidence.”
The family said it had “noted with serious concern” the remarks, given Mallam El-Rufai’s record as former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, two-term Governor of Kaduna State from 2015 to 2023, and current Opposition Leader of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
In the absence of proof, the family is demanding a full public retraction and apology through the same medium on which the allegation 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 statement said.
The family warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period “will leave the family with no option but to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law in response to these unsubstantiated allegations.”
The allegation touches on one of the most sensitive issues of El-Rufai’s tenure in Kaduna. Southern Kaduna experienced repeated episodes of communal violence and banditry between 2015 and 2023, resulting in the loss of lives and displacement of communities.
The killings drew national and international attention, with successive governments, civil society groups and traditional institutions calling for lasting peace and security solutions in the area.
El-Rufai, who left office in May 2023 after eight years as governor, has in the past defended his administration’s security policies and said his government worked with federal security agencies to contain attacks. He has since moved into opposition politics and currently serves as a leading voice in the ADC.
General Musa, a retired Chief of Defence Staff, was appointed Minister of Defence in the current administration. His appearance on Politics Today last Week, drew wide commentary on social media after clips of the interview circulated online.
Under Nigerian law, accusations of planning killings carry serious criminal implications and can form the basis of civil and criminal proceedings if found to be false and damaging.
As of press time, the Ministry of Defence had not issued an official response to the El-Rufai family’s demand. Channels Television also did not comment on the matter.
The seven-day ultimatum given by the family lapses on September 14, 2026. Observers say the next steps taken by General Musa could determine whether the dispute moves from the media space into the courts.
The El-Rufai family said it remains committed to defending the name and reputation of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai “against any attempt to malign him without facts.”
