El-Rufai family threatens legal action against Defence Minister over killings allegation

The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has threatened legal action against the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), over an allegation that the former governor planned killings in Southern Kaduna.

In a statement issued in Abuja by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the family demanded that Musa provide evidence backing the allegation or retract it publicly within seven days.

Musa allegedly made the claim during a live edition of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3, 2026, accusing El-Rufai of actively planning killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as governor.

But the El-Rufai family rejected the allegation, saying no evidence was presented during the programme to substantiate the claim.

The family described the allegation as grave, stressing that Musa was entitled to express his personal opinion but should be prepared to support such a serious claim with credible evidence.

According to the statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, the Defence Minister must either provide evidence or issue a full public retraction and apology through Channels Television, the medium where the allegation was made.

The family said the seven-day deadline took effect from September 7, warning that failure to comply would leave it with no option but to pursue all appropriate legal remedies available under the law.

The development raises the prospect of a legal confrontation between the family of the former governor and the Defence Minister over the allegation.

El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Kaduna State Governor, is currently identified by his family as an opposition leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).