El-Rufai’s Family Gives Defence Minister Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Alleged Planned Killings
By KEMI KASUMU
“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,” it said. The family warned that failure to comply with the demand would result in legal action.
The family of former Kaduna State Governor and ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has given the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), seven days to provide evidence supporting his allegation that El-Rufai deliberately planned the killing of people in Southern Kaduna or publicly retract the claim.
The ultimatum followed comments made by Musa during a live edition of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3, 2026, where he accused the former governor of actions that allegedly deepened divisions and contributed to insecurity in Kaduna State during his tenure between 2015 and 2023.
Musa described the situation in Kaduna under El-Rufai as “toxic”, particularly in relation to the experience of residents of Southern Kaduna.
“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 said.
Asked whether people in Southern Kaduna remained unhappy with the former governor, Musa responded, “If there is anything worse than unhappy. We can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people.”
The minister also accused El-Rufai of ordering the demolition of houses belonging to individuals with whom he allegedly had personal disagreements.
However, El-Rufai’s family has rejected the allegations, describing the claim that the former governor planned killings in Southern Kaduna as a grave accusation that was made without evidence.
The family’s position was contained in a statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, the former governor’s eldest son.
“The El-Rufai family has noted with serious concern the allegations made by General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), Minister of Defence, on 3 September 2026 during a live television broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television,” the statement said.
“During the programme, General Musa alleged that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as Governor of Kaduna State.
“This grave allegation was made without the presentation of any evidence in support of the claim.
“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,” said the statement.
The family consequently challenged the Defence Minister to produce evidence to substantiate the allegation or withdraw it publicly.
“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 added.
“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,” it said.
The family warned that failure to comply with the demand 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,” the statement stated.
El-Rufai served as FCT minister before becoming governor of Kaduna State, where he served from 2015 to 2023. He is currently identified as an opposition leader within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
