‘Provide valid evidence or face legal action’ – El-Rufai’s family tells Defence Minister Musa

The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has given the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, seven days to provide evidence supporting 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 interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3.

The Defence Minister accused the former governor of “doing a lot of terrible things” in Kaduna and alleged that he played a role in the killings recorded in Southern Kaduna during his tenure.

The el-Rufai family has now challenged Musa to substantiate the claim within seven days.

The minister also accused the former governor of dividing the state along regional lines and restricting movement between northern and southern Kaduna.

“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 accused el-Rufai of paying bandits and said the former governor had spoken publicly about 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,” Musa said.

The minister, however, said he did not regard el-Rufai as an enemy, describing him instead as “misguided”.

FAMILY DEMANDS EVIDENCE OR RETRACTION

Responding to the allegations, the former governor’s family said Musa failed to provide evidence to support his claim that el-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna.

The family said while the minister was entitled to his opinion, serious allegations of criminal conduct should be backed by credible evidence.

“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 consequently gave Musa seven days from the date of the statement to substantiate the allegation or withdraw it publicly.

“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 family said.

The family noted that it would consider legal action if Musa failed to comply with the demand.

“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,” the statement added.

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