Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has given Defence Minister Christopher Musa seven days to substantiate alleged claims or retract them and apologise.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has demanded that Defence Minister Christopher Musa provide evidence supporting allegations made against him during a recent television interview or publicly retract the claims and apologise.
The demand followed comments attributed to Musa during a September 3 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today, where the minister accused El-Rufai of actions that allegedly contributed to killings and division in Southern Kaduna.
El-Rufai Seeks Retraction
In a statement issued on Monday by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the former governor described the allegations as serious and said no evidence was presented during the broadcast to substantiate them.
The family consequently gave Musa seven days to provide evidence supporting the allegation or issue a full public retraction and apology through the same medium where the remarks were made.
The family warned that failure to comply could result in legal action.
El-Rufai’s lawyers have separately issued a formal letter of claim demanding a retraction, apology and preservation of relevant evidence connected to the broadcast. Reports say the legal notice gives Musa and his representatives seven days to provide a substantive response.
What Musa Said
Musa’s comments came during a discussion about the security situation in Kaduna State and the experience of communities in Southern Kaduna during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
The Defence Minister alleged that El-Rufai had deliberately contributed to divisions and violence in the state.
Musa also referred to alleged statements and actions attributed to the former governor concerning banditry and security operations.
The allegations have now triggered a fresh confrontation between the former governor and the Defence Minister.
Possible Legal Battle
The dispute could escalate into a legal battle if the demands for evidence, retraction and apology are not resolved.
For now, the allegations remain disputed, with El-Rufai and his family rejecting them and demanding that Musa substantiate his claims.
The development has also added another political dimension to the increasingly heated exchanges involving major figures in Kaduna and national politics ahead of the 2027 elections.