El-Rufai Family Gives Defence Minister Seven-Day Ultimatum Over Southern Kaduna Killings Claim

The family of former Kaduna State Governor and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has given the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), seven days to provide evidence or retract an allegation that El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as governor.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement issued on Monday, September 7, 2026, by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai, on behalf of the El-Rufai family.
The family said it viewed the allegation with “serious concern,” particularly because it was made during a live television programme without, according to the family, any evidence being presented to substantiate the claim.
General Musa reportedly made the allegation on September 3, 2026, during an appearance on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television.
According to the family, “General Musa alleged that Mallam Nasir El-Rufai actively planned killings in Southern Kaduna while serving as Governor of Kaduna State.”
The family described the allegation as “grave” and insisted that such a serious claim could not be made without credible evidence.
“This grave allegation was made without the presentation of any evidence in support of the claim,” the statement said.
It acknowledged the Defence Minister’s right to express his views, but stressed that the former governor’s family was equally entitled to demand proof for an allegation of such magnitude.
“While General Musa (Rtd.) is entitled to hold and express his personal opinions, the El-Rufai family is equally entitled to demand that such serious allegations be substantiated with credible evidence,” it stated.
The family subsequently issued a seven-day ultimatum, challenging the former Chief of Defence Staff to either produce evidence backing his allegation or publicly withdraw it.
“In the absence of such evidence, we call on him to publicly retract the allegation through the same medium on which it was made,” the statement declared.
It added: “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 also warned that it could resort to legal action should the Defence Minister fail to comply with the demand within the stipulated period.
“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,” it warned.
The statement was signed by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai “for and on behalf of the El-Rufai Family” and dated Abuja, September 7, 2026.
The development adds a potentially significant legal dimension to the continuing controversy surrounding allegations of violence and killings in Southern Kaduna during El-Rufai’s tenure as governor.
El-Rufai served as Kaduna State governor from 2015 to 2023 and subsequently became a prominent opposition figure, including his association with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The family’s demand now puts the Defence Minister on notice that it expects him either to substantiate his claim with credible evidence or return to the same television platform to retract and apologise for the allegation.
The seven-day deadline issued by the family therefore sets the stage for a possible escalation of the dispute if no evidence or public retraction is forthcoming.