Family Issues Ultimatum for Evidence or Retraction
The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Minister of Defence Christopher Musa, demanding that the federal minister provide verifiable evidence to support his allegations regarding the former governor’s involvement in regional violence. Alternatively, the family has called for a public retraction of the claims made by the defence minister.
The demand was communicated through a formal statement released on Monday by Bello el-Rufai, a member of the House of Representatives, who spoke on behalf of the former governor’s family. The statement outlined the family’s position that the allegations leveled against Nasir el-Rufai require substantiation or immediate withdrawal.
The ultimatum addresses specific accusations made by Minister Musa during a televised interview earlier in the week. By setting a seven-day deadline, the family has placed a strict timeframe on the defence minister to either produce documentation supporting his claims or publicly apologize for what they characterize as unsubstantiated assertions.
Details of the Defence Minister’s Allegations
The controversy stems from comments made by Christopher Musa during a live interview on Channels Television’s program "Politics Today" on September 3. During the broadcast, Musa accused el-Rufai of contributing to killings recorded in Southern Kaduna while the former governor held office.
Musa characterized el-Rufai’s tenure as involving "a lot of terrible things," specifically citing the minister’s belief that the former governor played a role in planning or facilitating violence in the region. The allegations extend beyond specific incidents of killing to broader accusations regarding governance and regional stability during el-Rufai’s administration.
In addition to the claims regarding killings, Musa accused the former governor of dividing Kaduna State along regional lines. He stated that el-Rufai’s policies effectively restricted movement between the northern and southern parts of the state. According to Musa, this division created a scenario where individuals from the south were prohibited from living in the north, while those from the north continued to move into the south.
"El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna state. He divided the state into two," Musa said during the interview. "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." The minister framed these actions as deliberate strategies that exacerbated regional tensions and restricted freedom of movement for residents.
Accusations Regarding Payments to Bandits
Beyond the claims of regional division and involvement in killings, Musa also alleged that el-Rufai admitted to paying bandits. The minister asserted that the former governor had publicly acknowledged actions taken by his administration regarding these payments.
"He told us he paid bandits. He told us he did this; he did that. He didn't hide it," Musa said, suggesting that el-Rufai was open about financial dealings with armed groups during his time in office. The minister presented these statements as admissions rather than allegations, indicating that the former governor had not concealed these activities.
Response from the El-Rufai Family
The response from the El-Rufai family was delivered via Bello el-Rufai, who serves as a member of the House of Representatives. In his capacity representing the family, he issued the statement on Monday demanding that Minister Musa either prove the killing allegations or retract them.
The family’s ultimatum requires Musa to provide evidence backing his allegation that el-Rufai was involved in planning killings in Southern Kaduna. The demand for proof is presented as a necessary step before any further discussion or acknowledgment of the claims can occur.
Should Minister Musa fail to provide such evidence within the seven-day period, the family has indicated that he must publicly retract the claim. This retraction is framed as an alternative to providing substantiation, suggesting that the family views the current allegations as lacking a factual basis that can be demonstrated through evidence.
Timeline of Events
The sequence of events leading to the current standoff began with Musa’s interview on September 3. The allegations made during that broadcast prompted the family to prepare and issue their statement. Bello el-Rufai released the ultimatum on Monday, establishing a deadline for the defence minister to respond.
The seven-day window provided by the family begins from the date of the statement’s release. During this period, Minister Musa is expected to either produce evidence supporting his claims regarding el-Rufai’s involvement in killings and regional division or issue a public apology and retraction of the statements made on Channels Television.
No further responses have been recorded from Minister Musa as of the release of the family’s statement. The situation remains pending the outcome of the ultimatum, with the family maintaining that the burden of proof lies with the defence minister to validate his assertions regarding the former governor’s actions in Kaduna State.