BREAKING: El-Rufai Moves Against Defence Minister Musa Over Remarks, Issues Demands
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has taken legal steps against the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd.), over statements allegedly made about him during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.
El-Rufai, through his lawyers at the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, issued a letter of claim dated September 7, to Musa, demanding a retraction and apology over the statements, as well as the preservation of evidence relating to the broadcast.
The letter, which was acknowledged by the Ministry of Defence on September 7, accused Musa of making defamatory statements against the former governor during the September 3 edition of Politics Today.
The lawyers said they were acting as solicitors to El-Rufai and described the document as a “formal letter of claim” intended to set out their client’s complaint and give Musa an opportunity to remedy the alleged harm before further legal proceedings.
The legal action follows comments by Musa in which he accused the former governor of actions that allegedly worsened insecurity and divisions in Kaduna State during his tenure between 2015 and 2023.
During the television programme, Musa described the situation under El-Rufai as “toxic” and alleged that the former governor divided Kaduna along regional lines.
Musa said, “El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna State. He divided the state into two. In that, if you are from the south, you cannot go to the north to live.”
The Defence Minister was also asked about the feelings of people in Southern Kaduna towards El-Rufai over killings recorded in the area during his administration.
In response, Musa said, “We can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people.”
The statement is among several remarks reproduced by El-Rufai’s lawyers in the letter as words complained of.
The lawyers also quoted Musa as saying, “you know his speeches he was very proud of what he did. He told us he paid bandits.”
Another statement attributed to the minister was, “he told us he did this he did that. He didn’t hide it. He was that arrogant to.”
Musa was further quoted as saying, “I can tell you people what he has done to people even in Kachia from his own area. He had he had him just personally with friends.”
The letter also cited another statement in which Musa allegedly said, “the next thing he sends a bulldozer to bulldoze your house down. He’s done it.”
The lawyers said the programme was broadcast on terrestrial television, satellite television and online streaming platforms and remained accessible at the time the letter was issued.
They argued that the statements were actionable as libel and slander and demanded that evidence relating to the broadcast be preserved.
The legal move comes after El-Rufai’s family had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to Musa over the same allegations.
The family, in a statement signed by El-Rufai’s eldest son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, described the allegation that the former governor deliberately planned the killing of people in Southern Kaduna as a grave claim that required credible evidence.
The family said Musa was entitled to express his opinion but insisted that serious allegations against the former governor must be supported by evidence.
“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 subsequently demanded that Musa provide evidence supporting the allegation within seven days or issue a full public retraction and apology.
“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 family said.
The family also warned that failure to comply would result in legal action.
“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,” it added.
The latest letter from El-Rufai’s lawyers goes further by specifying a response procedure for Musa.
According to the letter, Musa is required to acknowledge receipt in writing within 24 hours by email to the addresses provided by El-Rufai’s lawyers.
The lawyers further gave the Defence Minister seven calendar days from effective receipt of the letter to provide a substantive written response addressing the demands contained in the letter.
They warned that silence or failure to provide a substantive response within the stipulated period could be relied upon by El-Rufai, “so far as the law permits,” in relation to mitigation, the assessment of aggravated damages and whether there was any genuine belief in the truth of the statements complained of.
The lawyers also stated that all correspondence on the matter must quote their reference and be addressed to the undersigned counsel. They added that if Musa engaged solicitors, the lawyers were to be notified immediately of their identity and contact details.
The letter stressed that the demands were being made without prejudice to El-Rufai’s rights and that all such rights and remedies were expressly reserved.
The lawyers also reserved the right to amend, supplement or expand the matters contained in the letter if further information became available.
El-Rufai served as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023, while Musa, a former Chief of Defence Staff, currently serves as Minister of Defence.
Politics Nigeria recalls that El-Rufai is also facing a nine-count amended charge before the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission involving allegations including abuse of office, fraud, irregular award and execution of public contracts, money laundering, conferring undue advantage and unlawful handling of public funds during his tenure as governor. He has denied wrongdoing.
He is also facing a separate five-count amended charge filed by the Department of State Services over allegations relating to the unlawful interception of telephone conversations involving the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
