El-Rufai Family Gives Defence Minister 7 Days to Prove Southern Kaduna Killings Claim
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has given the 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.
The demand 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 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, where he accused the former governor of engaging in actions that allegedly deepened divisions in Kaduna State.
The Defence Minister claimed that El-Rufai divided the state along regional lines and alleged that residents from Southern Kaduna were restricted from moving to the northern part of the state, while people from the north moved south.
Musa also accused the former governor of paying bandits, arguing that El-Rufai had previously spoken publicly about actions taken by his administration.
Despite the allegations, Musa said he did not consider El-Rufai an enemy, describing him instead as “misguided.”
Family Demands Evidence
Reacting to the remarks, the El-Rufai family said the minister made a serious allegation of criminal conduct without presenting evidence to support it.
The family specifically challenged Musa to substantiate his claim that El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna during his tenure as governor.
According to the statement, while the minister was entitled to his opinion, allegations of such gravity must be supported by credible evidence.
The family therefore gave Musa seven days from the date of its statement to either produce evidence supporting the allegation or publicly retract it and apologise.
It warned that failure to comply within the stipulated period would leave the family with no option but to pursue appropriate legal remedies over what it described as unsubstantiated allegations.
The development has heightened the controversy surrounding allegations of insecurity, banditry and communal violence in Kaduna State during the El-Rufai administration.
