The family of former Kaduna State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) opposition leader, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has given the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd.), seven days to retract an allegation linking the former governor to killings in Southern Kaduna or face legal action.
The family made the demand in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the El-Rufai family.
The dispute followed comments allegedly made by Musa during a live edition of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3, 2026, in which the Defence Minister accused the former governor of actively planning killings in Southern Kaduna while in office.
Describing the allegation as “grave,” the El-Rufai family said Musa made the claim without presenting evidence to substantiate it.
The family said while the Defence Minister was entitled to his personal opinions, it was equally entitled to demand credible evidence for what it described as a serious allegation capable of damaging the former governor’s reputation.
“In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made,” the statement said.
It added that Musa had been given seven days from the date of the family’s statement to either produce evidence supporting his claim or issue a full public retraction and apology.
“Failure to do so 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 family warned.
The threat has already escalated into a formal legal demand, with lawyers representing El-Rufai demanding, among other things, full disclosure of the sources, documents and reports allegedly relied upon by Musa in making the statements.
The legal demand also seeks disclosure of all correspondence and communications involving Channels Television and other media organisations concerning the programme, as well as data relating to the broadcast’s reach, impressions, views, shares and engagement.
According to Ubong Esop Akpan, Esq.
Principal Counsel, The Chambers Of Ubong Akpan, the lawyers further demanded a signed undertaking from Musa not to repeat, republish or cause the repetition of the alleged defamatory statements or substantially similar allegations, except where legally justified and supported by evidence.
At the centre of the compensation demand is ₦10 billion, which the lawyers said was being sought as compensation for the alleged injury to El-Rufai’s reputation and the distress and inconvenience caused by the statements.
The lawyers, however, clarified that the ₦10 billion demand was a settlement and compensation proposal and not damages already awarded or agreed upon.
They said El-Rufai remained willing to consider “any reasonable and substantive proposal” in response.
The legal team warned that failure to provide a satisfactory response within the stipulated period could trigger proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Among the reliefs being contemplated are declarations that the alleged statements were false and defamatory, general, aggravated and exemplary damages where permissible, and injunctions restraining further publication of the statements or similar allegations.
The lawyers are also seeking possible orders for preservation and disclosure of evidence and relevant data, as well as interest and legal costs.
According to the letter, Musa is required to acknowledge receipt within 24 hours and provide a substantive response to the demands by 4:00 p.m. on the seventh calendar day after effective receipt.
The legal team further warned that silence or failure to respond substantively within the stipulated period could, where permitted by law, be relied upon in proceedings concerning mitigation and the assessment of aggravated damages.
The family’s position marks a sharp escalation in the controversy over the Defence Minister’s comments, with the former Kaduna governor’s camp now threatening a ₦10 billion defamation battle unless the allegation is withdrawn.
