Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has demanded N10bn in compensation and a public apology from the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, over comments the former governor’s lawyers described as defamatory.
The demand followed Musa’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, where he discussed insecurity in Kaduna and made several claims concerning El-Rufai’s administration.
In a letter before action dated September 7 and signed by lawyers from the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, El-Rufai demanded a public retraction and apology from the minister.
The letter was made public by Bello El-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives and son of the former governor.
Among the comments attributed to Musa was, “He told us he paid bandits,” while the minister also alleged that El-Rufai had deliberately planned the killing of people.
El-Rufai’s lawyers rejected the allegations, describing them as false and defamatory. They argued that the comments portrayed their client as being involved in killings, banditry and other unlawful conduct during his time as governor.
The lawyers said the statements, taken together, suggested that El-Rufai was “a criminal, a murderer, a sponsor of banditry” and a person of “the most base and depraved character.”
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They demanded that Musa issue a “prominent, unconditional and unambiguous retraction, correction and apology” on Politics Today, with similar or greater prominence than the original comments.
They also requested that the apology be published in two national newspapers, including one with a significant readership in Northern Nigeria and another in Southern Nigeria.
On the financial demand, the lawyers said the N10bn was being sought as compensation for what they described as damage to El-Rufai’s reputation, as well as the distress and inconvenience allegedly caused by the statements.
They clarified that the N10bn had not been awarded by any court and was being demanded as part of a proposed settlement.
The legal team also denied the allegations against the former governor, saying no evidence had been provided to substantiate the claim that El-Rufai deliberately planned killings.
They maintained that El-Rufai had consistently opposed negotiating with or paying bandits.
On demolitions carried out during his tenure, the lawyers said the exercise was undertaken “in accordance with the law and for public purposes.”
They also rejected claims that El-Rufai’s administration deliberately divided Kaduna along ethnic or religious lines.
According to the lawyers, the allegations had not been tested or established before any court and should therefore be strictly proved.
They further argued that Musa’s position as Defence Minister and retired Nigerian Army general gave his public comments additional weight.
The lawyers demanded that Musa disclose the sources, documents and reports relied upon in making the allegations. They also requested information relating to the reach and engagement of the television programme.
El-Rufai’s legal team further demanded an undertaking from Musa not to repeat or republish the statements or allegations of substantially similar effect.
Musa was given seven days from the effective date of receiving the letter to meet the demands. The lawyers also requested written acknowledgement within 24 hours.
They warned that failure to comply could lead to legal proceedings in which El-Rufai could seek damages, injunctions against further publication, declaratory relief, interest and legal costs.
Amid the dispute, Muslim and Christian leaders in Southern Kaduna appealed for calm and restraint.
The Jama’atu Nasril Islam and the Christian Association of Nigeria made the appeal during a joint peace meeting in Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
The religious leaders urged residents not to allow the disagreement between the two public figures to create fresh religious or regional tension.
Chairman of the Council of Imams, Southern Kaduna, Imam Muhammed Kabir Kasim, described Musa as an experienced military officer and public servant and urged people to consider the context surrounding his comments.
“Whatever anybody says, we should always look at the intention and the context,” Kasim said.
He warned against allowing social media reactions to worsen relations between Christians and Muslims in the area.
Kasim said Southern Kaduna had faced enough challenges and should not allow disagreements involving public figures to reopen old divisions.
Similarly, Chairman of JNI, Southern Kaduna/Jema’a, Mallam Garba Alhassan Adamu, said his interactions with Musa had shown him to be concerned about peace and stability in the region.
Adamu urged religious leaders to be careful with their choice of words when discussing sensitive issues, warning that inflammatory statements could deepen mistrust.
“We must learn to disagree without becoming enemies,” he said.
The Chairman of CAN in Kachia Local Government Area, Rev. Ezekiel Jock, also appealed to Christians and Muslims to separate political disagreements from religious relations.
He said public comments could be interpreted differently by different audiences and urged people to focus on facts rather than emotions.
Jock also cautioned against the circulation of provocative material on social media, saying such content could unnecessarily heighten tensions.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Muslim-Christian Network for Good Governance expressed support for Musa over his comments concerning the former governor.
The group described the minister’s remarks as an “honest and patriotic assessment” of the El-Rufai administration.
In a statement signed by its chairman, Tahir Tanko, secretary, Steven Kefas, and other officials, the group criticised what it described as attempts to portray Musa’s comments as an attack motivated by ethnic or religious considerations.
The group alleged that residents of Kaduna witnessed several controversial policies during El-Rufai’s tenure, including the removal of traditional rulers and workers, demolitions, the handling of insecurity and restrictions placed on some religious and community leaders.
It also referred to a widely circulated video involving the former governor and made further allegations concerning his administration.
The network said Musa’s comments should not be viewed solely through the lens of Southern Kaduna, arguing that his remarks were broader in scope.
It urged those disputing the minister’s claims to provide evidence rather than frame the disagreement as an ethnic or religious confrontation.
The group also expressed support for Musa’s current role as Defence Minister, wishing him success in efforts to improve security across the country.
The dispute between El-Rufai and Musa now centres on whether the minister’s comments amounted to defamation, with the former governor demanding a retraction, apology and N10bn compensation.
No court has, however, determined the truth or otherwise of the allegations contained in the dispute.