El-Rufai demands ₦10 billion and apology from defence minister over Southern Kaduna allegation

Nasir El-Rufai’s lawyers have given Defence Minister Christopher Musa seven days to withdraw an allegation that the former Kaduna governor deliberately planned killings in Southern Kaduna, or substantiate it with evidence.

The demand came in an eight-page pre-action letter dated Monday, Sept. 7. A copy posted with a statement from the El-Rufai family carries an acknowledgement stamp from the Ministry of Defence dated the same day. The family statement was signed by El-Rufai’s son, Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.

The lawyers demanded a public apology and a retraction of Musa’s remarks on Channels Television’s Politics Today. They asked that the retraction receive the same or greater prominence than the original comments, including publication in two national newspapers, one mainly distributed in northern Nigeria and the other in the south.

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We can never be happy with somebody who deliberately planned for the killing of our people.

They also requested the preservation of recordings, transcripts, notes, correspondence and source material linked to the interview, as well as disclosure of the evidence Musa relied on. The letter sought a written undertaking that he would not repeat the allegations unless they were legally justified and supported by evidence.

The lawyers demanded ₦10 billion for what they described as damage to El-Rufai’s reputation and distress caused by the broadcast. The letter expressly said the amount was proposed as a settlement, “is not” damages awarded or agreed by a court. It threatened defamation proceedings, damages and injunctions if Musa failed to provide a satisfactory response.

Musa made the allegation during a Sept. 3 appearance on Politics Today. Asked whether people in Southern Kaduna remained unhappy with El-Rufai, he said, “We can never be happy with somebody who deliberately planned for the killing of our people.” When the presenter called it a serious allegation, Musa replied, “Definitely,” and referred generally to videos and speeches in which he alleged that El-Rufai said he had paid bandits. El-Rufai’s lawyers denied the claims and said no court had proved them.

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Definitely.