Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has demanded N10 billion in compensation and a public apology from the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), over statements the former governor described as defamatory.
The demand was contained in a letter before action dated September 7, 2026, issued by El-Rufai’s lawyers, the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, and addressed to Musa at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
The letter was made public by Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor.
The legal threat followed Musa’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, during which he discussed insecurity in Kaduna State and made allegations concerning the former governor.
According to El-Rufai’s lawyers, Musa alleged during the programme that their client had deliberately planned the killing of people and had paid bandits.
The lawyers also cited a statement attributed to the minister concerning the demolition of a house, which they said portrayed El-Rufai as responsible for unlawful actions against his opponents.
They argued that the comments, taken collectively, presented the former governor as a criminal, murderer, sponsor of banditry and a person of extremely poor character.
Lawyers demand apology and retraction
El-Rufai’s legal team described the allegations as false and defamatory and demanded what it called a prominent, unconditional and unambiguous retraction, correction and apology.
They want the apology made on Politics Today with at least the same level of prominence given to the original comments.
The lawyers also requested that the apology be published in two nationally circulating newspapers, including one with major circulation in Northern Nigeria and another with major circulation in Southern Nigeria.
On compensation, the lawyers demanded N10 billion, describing the amount as compensation for the alleged damage to El-Rufai’s reputation, as well as the distress and inconvenience they said the statements had caused him.
They clarified that the N10 billion was a demand for settlement and compensation and not an award of damages by a court.
El-Rufai denies allegations
In responding to the claims, El-Rufai’s lawyers denied that the former governor had ever been involved in planning the deliberate killing of people in Southern Kaduna.
They said no evidence had been produced to establish that he had deliberately planned the killing of anyone.
The legal team also rejected the allegation that El-Rufai paid bandits, stating that the former governor had consistently maintained that he would neither negotiate with nor pay bandits.
On the issue of demolitions, the lawyers said any demolitions carried out during El-Rufai’s administration were conducted in accordance with the law and for public purposes.
They further rejected suggestions that his administration deliberately divided Kaduna State along ethnic or religious lines, arguing that the government pursued policies intended to promote unity and development throughout the state.
The lawyers maintained that none of the allegations made by Musa had been tested or established before a court of competent jurisdiction and demanded that the minister provide evidence to substantiate his claims.
Lawyers cite Musa’s position as Defence Minister
El-Rufai’s legal representatives also argued that Musa’s position as Minister of Defence and retired Nigerian Army general gave his statements greater public weight.
They said allegations coming from someone occupying such a senior position could cause more reputational damage because members of the public might attach greater credibility to the claims.
The lawyers further accused the minister of making the allegations without adequately verifying them beforehand.
As part of their demands, they asked Musa to preserve all materials connected to his Politics Today appearance, including recordings, transcripts, notes, drafts, correspondence and source documents.
They also requested information about the sources, reports and other materials relied upon by the minister, as well as data relating to the programme’s reach, views, shares and engagement.
The legal team further demanded that Musa provide a written undertaking not to repeat or republish the allegedly defamatory claims or similar allegations.
Seven-day deadline issued
Musa was given seven calendar days from effective receipt of the letter to meet the demands.
The lawyers also requested written acknowledgement of receipt within 24 hours, followed by a substantive response by 4pm on the seventh calendar day after receipt.
They warned that a failure to respond could be considered in any subsequent legal proceedings, particularly in relation to mitigation, aggravated damages and whether the minister genuinely believed the allegations to be true.
If the demands are not met, El-Rufai’s lawyers said they could commence court proceedings seeking declarations, damages, injunctions against further publication, preservation and disclosure orders, interest and legal costs.
Religious leaders call for restraint
Amid the legal dispute, Muslim and Christian leaders in Southern Kaduna have appealed for calm, dialogue and mutual understanding over the controversy surrounding Musa’s remarks.
The appeal was made at a joint peace meeting in Kafanchan, organised under the platforms of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
The Chairman of the Council of Imams, Southern Kaduna, Imam Muhammed Kabir Kasim, described Musa as an experienced military officer and public servant.
He urged members of the public to consider the context and intention behind statements before drawing conclusions, particularly when reacting to social media interpretations.
Kasim also cautioned against allowing disagreements involving public figures to damage relationships between Christian and Muslim communities in Southern Kaduna.
Similarly, the Chairman of JNI Southern Kaduna/Jema’a, Mallam Garba Alhassan Adamu, said his interactions with Musa had convinced him that the minister was concerned about peace and stability in the region.
Adamu urged religious leaders to use responsible language when discussing sensitive political and security matters, warning that inflammatory comments could increase mistrust between communities.
He called on people to learn to disagree without turning disagreements into personal or communal hostility.
CAN leader urges separation of person from statement
The Chairman of CAN in Kachia Local Government Area, Reverend Ezekiel Jock, also called for restraint.
Jock said statements by public officials could be interpreted differently by different audiences and urged Christians and Muslims not to transform disagreements over political remarks into religious or regional conflicts.
He advised Nigerians to distinguish between the individual making a statement and the content of the statement itself, stressing that disagreements should be addressed using facts rather than emotion.
Jock also warned against spreading provocative or misleading information through social media, saying such content could heighten tensions in communities.
He stressed that Southern Kaduna’s religious diversity makes it particularly important for community and religious leaders to promote peaceful coexistence.
Interfaith group backs Christopher Musa
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Muslim-Christian Network for Good Governance, an interfaith organisation based in Kaduna, has expressed support for Musa over his comments concerning the El-Rufai administration.
The group described the minister’s remarks as an “honest and patriotic assessment” and criticised what it called attempts to damage Musa’s reputation.
In a statement issued on Monday and signed by its Chairman, Tahir Tanko, Secretary Steven Kefas and five other officials, the organisation said it was concerned about what it described as selective interpretations and ethno-religious reactions to the minister’s comments.
The group claimed that residents of Kaduna had witnessed what it described as divisive policies during El-Rufai’s tenure from 2015 to 2023.
Among the issues it raised were the removal of traditional rulers and workers, alleged killings of Shiites, insecurity, demolitions of markets and houses, and the arrest or detention of some Christian and Muslim leaders who opposed certain government policies.
The organisation also referred to a widely circulated video in which El-Rufai allegedly discussed marginalisation in the state.
It further accused the former governor of using religion as a political tool, particularly during election periods.
Group says Musa’s comments reflected experiences in Kaduna
The interfaith network said Musa’s comments about El-Rufai’s tenure reflected what it described as the experiences of residents during that period.
It challenged those disputing the minister’s account to provide facts rather than relying on ethnic or religious arguments to defend the former governor.
The organisation also argued that Musa’s comments about people who died during El-Rufai’s administration should not be interpreted as referring only to Southern Kaduna.
It said the minister’s reference to “our people” should be understood in the wider context of residents across Kaduna State who, according to the group, suffered deaths and hardship linked to policies, actions or alleged failures during the former governor’s tenure.
The network concluded by expressing support for Musa’s work as Defence Minister and wished him success in efforts to improve security across Nigeria.
The controversy therefore continues on two fronts, with El-Rufai pursuing a potential defamation case against Musa, while religious and civil society leaders in Kaduna call for restraint and dialogue over the allegations.
Source: Punch
