‘Southern Kaduna killings’: El-rufai’s family hands ultimatum to defence minister

The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has given Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), seven days to provide evidence backing his alleged claim that the former governor deliberately planned killings in Southern Kaduna or retract the statement and apologise.

The demand is contained in a statement issued on Monday by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, as well as a separate letter before action issued by the former governor’s lawyers. Blueprint reports

The lawyers are demanding, among other remedies, N10 billion in compensation over what they described as defamatory statements made by the Defence Minister during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, 2026.

Family challenges Musa to produce evidence

The El-Rufai family said it received the allegations with serious concern, particularly because no evidence was presented during the television programme to support the claim that the former governor deliberately planned killings in Southern Kaduna.

The family acknowledged Musa’s right to express his views but maintained that allegations of such gravity must be supported by credible evidence.

It therefore gave the Defence Minister seven days from the date of its statement to either substantiate the allegation or issue a full public retraction and apology through the same medium where the statement was made.

The family warned that failure to do so would leave it with no option but to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law.

Lawyers demand retraction, apology

The development was reinforced by a formal letter before action dated September 7, 2026, issued by the Chambers of Ubong Akpan on behalf of El-Rufai.

The lawyers said the letter was written on the former governor’s instructions and was intended to give Musa an opportunity to remedy the alleged harm before the commencement of possible legal proceedings.

They identified several portions of Musa’s September 3 interview which they considered defamatory of their client.

Among the statements cited were references to someone who had deliberately planned the killing of people, claims that El-Rufai had paid bandits and references to alleged demolitions of houses.

The lawyers also pointed to comments concerning killings in Kaduna State, the former governor’s relationship with communities and his handling of political and security matters.

El-Rufai denies killing, ransom allegations

Through his lawyers, El-Rufai denied the allegations, insisting that he had never been involved in deliberately planning the killing of anyone in Southern Kaduna.

The legal team argued that no evidence had been produced to establish the allegation and challenged Musa to provide the sources and materials upon which he relied.

On the claim that El-Rufai paid bandits, the lawyers said their client had consistently maintained that he would neither negotiate with nor pay bandits.

They also rejected the allegation that the former governor used his office to victimise people by ordering the demolition of their houses because of personal disagreements.

According to the lawyers, demolitions carried out during El-Rufai’s administration were undertaken in accordance with the law and for public purposes.

The former governor also denied dividing Kaduna State along ethnic or religious lines, with his lawyers maintaining that his administration implemented policies aimed at promoting unity and development across the state.

N10bn compensation demanded

Beyond the demand for a public retraction and apology, El-Rufai’s lawyers are seeking N10 billion from Musa as compensation for the alleged injury to their client’s reputation, distress and inconvenience.

The lawyers clarified that the N10 billion demand is being made as a settlement and compensation and does not represent damages already awarded by a court.

They also demanded that any retraction and apology be published prominently on Channels Television’s Politics Today, with the same or greater prominence as the original statements.

The legal team further requested publication of the retraction in two nationally circulating newspapers, including one circulating principally in Northern Nigeria and another circulating principally in Southern Nigeria.

Lawyers demand preservation of evidence

The letter also requires Musa to preserve all materials relating to his Politics Today appearance.

These include recordings, transcripts, broadcast materials, notes, drafts, communications, source documents, reports and other materials relied upon in preparing for the programme.

The lawyers further demanded disclosure of the sources and documents relied upon by Musa, as well as information concerning the reach, views, shares and engagement generated by the broadcast and subsequent republication of the statements.

They also demanded a written undertaking that Musa would not repeat or republish the allegations, unless such publication is legally justified and supported by evidence.

Seven-day deadline

According to the letter, Musa is required to acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and provide a substantive response to the demands by 4 p.m. on the seventh calendar day after effective receipt of the letter.

The lawyers warned that failure to reach a satisfactory resolution within the stipulated period could lead to legal proceedings against the Defence Minister.

They said such proceedings could seek declarations that the statements were false and defamatory, general, aggravated and exemplary damages where applicable, injunctions against further publication, preservation and disclosure orders, interest and legal costs.

The latest development adds a legal dimension to the growing political dispute surrounding comments about the record of the former Kaduna governor.

For the El-Rufai family, the position is clear: Musa must either produce evidence to support the allegation of deliberate planning of killings or publicly retract the claim and apologise, while the former governor’s legal team has separately placed a N10 billion compensation demand at the centre of its pre-action claim.