Jelili Gbadamosi
Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has given Defence Minister Christopher Musa seven days to respond to allegations of defamation arising from comments the minister allegedly made during a television interview.
El-Rufai, through his lawyers at the Chambers of Ubong Akpan, issued a formal letter of claim dated September 7, 2026, demanding a retraction of the alleged statements and an unreserved apology.
The legal team also demanded that the minister and his representatives preserve all relevant evidence connected to the broadcast, which was aired on September 3, 2026.
According to the lawyers, several remarks made during the programme touched on issues including banditry, killings, demolitions, ransom payments and El-Rufai’s conduct while he was governor of Kaduna State.
The solicitors described the statements as defamatory, noting that the broadcast remains available through terrestrial and satellite television as well as online streaming platforms.
El-Rufai’s legal team demanded that the minister acknowledge receipt of the letter within 24 hours and provide a substantive written response within seven days.
The former governor’s lawyers warned that failure to resolve the matter could lead to further legal action, stressing that El-Rufai reserves all rights and remedies available to him under the law.
The dispute follows the televised comments attributed to Musa and comes amid continued public debate over security challenges and the handling of insecurity during El-Rufai’s tenure as Kaduna governor.
