El-Rufai Demands N10bn Compensation, Apology From Defence Minister Musa
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has demanded ₦10 billion in compensation and a public apology from the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), over alleged defamatory remarks made during a television interview. El-Rufai’s lawyers, Chambers of Ubong Akpan, issued a letter before action dated September 7, 2026, following Musa’s appearance on Politics Today on September 3. According to the legal team, Musa made allegations linking El-Rufai to the planning of killings in Southern Kaduna, payments to bandits and the demolition of a house. The lawyers described the claims as false and damaging, arguing that they portrayed their client as a criminal and a sponsor of violence. They denied that El-Rufai ever paid or negotiated with bandits and maintained that no evidence had been provided to substantiate claims that he deliberately planned killings. The legal team also defended demolitions carried out under his administration, saying they were undertaken for lawful public purposes, while rejecting allegations that his government promoted ethnic or religious divisions in the state.
The lawyers stressed that the ₦10 billion being demanded was a settlement figure for alleged damage to El-Rufai’s reputation, distress and inconvenience, and not an amount awarded by a court. They requested a full retraction and public apology from Musa, to be made on Politics Today with similar or greater prominence and also published in two national newspapers. The legal team further asked Musa to provide evidence supporting the allegations and preserve recordings, transcripts and other materials connected to the television appearance. Musa was given seven days from receipt of the letter to meet the demands, with El-Rufai’s lawyers warning that failure to comply could lead to legal action seeking damages, injunctions and other court orders. Amid the controversy, Muslim and Christian leaders in Southern Kaduna have appealed for calm and dialogue, urging the public, especially social media users, to avoid statements that could worsen religious or regional tensions.
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