The war of words between former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, and Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (rtd), has taken a legal turn, with the ex-governor demanding N10 billion in damages over alleged defamatory remarks by the minister.
El-Rufai, through his lawyers, Chambers of Ubong Akpan, also demanded appropriate redress over comments Musa made during a September 3 appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
The former governor’s legal team conveyed the demand in a letter dated September 7 and addressed to Musa at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Abuja, accusing the minister of making statements capable of damaging el-Rufai’s reputation.
The controversy centres on Musa’s comments while discussing the security situation in Kaduna State. The minister was quoted as alleging that el-Rufai had deliberately facilitated the killing of residents and had admitted paying bandits.
“We can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people. He told us he paid bandits. The next thing he sends a bulldozer to bring your house down. He’s done it,” Musa was quoted as saying.
The legal demand was subsequently made public by Bello el-Rufai, the former governor’s son and member of the House of Representatives, who posted the letter on Facebook.
But while el-Rufai has chosen the legal route to challenge the remarks, the minister has received backing from groups in the North, creating a fresh dimension to the escalating dispute.
The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) defended Musa, arguing that the minister’s criticism was a reflection of what it described as the “true picture” of el-Rufai’s administration.
The Kaduna State Muslim-Christian Network for Good Governance also expressed support for Musa, further widening the divide over the allegations and the former governor’s record in office.
The dispute now pits el-Rufai’s demand for legal accountability against growing public defence of the Defence Minister, setting the stage for a potentially prolonged confrontation over the allegations and the former governor’s administration.
