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The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai has given Minister of Defence Christopher Musa seven days to provide evidence backing his allegation that the former governor was involved in planning killings in Southern Kaduna or publicly retract the claim.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement issued on Monday by Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, on behalf of the family.
Musa had made the allegation during a live interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, accusing the former governor of “doing a lot of terrible things” in Kaduna and of contributing to the killings recorded in Southern Kaduna during his tenure.
The minister also accused el-Rufai of dividing Kaduna State along regional lines and restricting movement between northern and southern parts of the state.
“El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna state. He divided the state into two,” Musa said.
“In that, if you are from the south, you cannot go to the north to live. Those ones from the north were moving to the south.”
Musa further accused the former governor of paying bandits, saying el-Rufai had publicly acknowledged actions taken by his administration.
“He told us he paid bandits. He told us he did this; he did that. He didn’t hide it,” the minister said.
However, Musa said he did not consider the former governor an enemy, describing him instead as “misguided”.
Reacting to the allegations, el-Rufai’s family said Musa was entitled to his opinion but should provide credible evidence for an allegation as serious as involvement in killings.
“During the programme, General Musa alleged that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as Governor of Kaduna State,” the family said.
“This grave allegation was made without the presentation of any evidence in support of the claim.”
The family therefore demanded that Musa either substantiate the allegation within seven days or issue a full public retraction and apology, warning that failure to comply would lead to legal action.
“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 statement said.
“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.
