Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has demanded N10 billion in compensation from the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, over alleged defamatory comments made during a television interview.
El-Rufai’s lawyers, Chambers of Ubong Akpan, made the demand in a letter before action dated Monday, September 7, 2026, and addressed to Musa at the Federal Ministry of Defence in Abuja.
The former governor’s son and member of the House of Representatives, Bello El-Rufai, shared the letter on Facebook.
The legal threat followed Musa’s appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on September 3, where the minister discussed insecurity in Kaduna State and made allegations concerning the former governor.
According to the lawyers, Musa allegedly accused El-Rufai of deliberately planning the killing of people and paying bandits.
The minister was also quoted as saying, “He told us he paid bandits,” while another statement attributed to him was, “The next thing he sends a bulldozer to bulldoze your house down. He’s done it.”
El-Rufai’s legal team described the allegations as false and defamatory, arguing that they portrayed the former governor as a murderer, criminal, bandit sponsor and a person responsible for victimising opponents.
The lawyers said the statements had caused significant damage to their client’s reputation, particularly because they were made by Musa in his capacity as Defence Minister and a retired Army general.
They stated, “Your statements carry particular weight and credibility in the eyes of the public.”
The legal team further maintained that no evidence had been presented to establish that El-Rufai deliberately planned the killing of anyone in Southern Kaduna.
On the allegation that he paid bandits, the lawyers said their client had consistently denied negotiating with or making payments to bandits.
They also rejected claims that demolitions carried out under El-Rufai’s administration were politically motivated, insisting that the exercises were undertaken in accordance with the law and for public purposes.
The lawyers similarly denied accusations that the former governor promoted ethnic or religious division in Kaduna, arguing that his administration pursued policies intended to promote unity and development.
They stressed that the allegations had not been established by any court, demanding that Musa provide strict proof of the claims.
As part of their demands, the lawyers requested a public retraction and apology from the minister on Politics Today, with prominence equal to or greater than that of the alleged defamatory statements.
They also demanded that the apology be published in two national newspapers, one with significant circulation in Northern Nigeria and another in Southern Nigeria.
The legal team further asked Musa to preserve recordings, transcripts, documents, communications and other materials connected to his television appearance.
They requested disclosure of the sources, reports and documents relied upon by the minister in making the allegations.
The lawyers also demanded a written undertaking from Musa not to repeat or republish the statements or make similar allegations against their client.
On the compensation, the letter stated, “Our Client’s instruction is to demand the sum of N10,000,000,000.00 (Ten Billion Naira) as compensation for the injury to his reputation and the distress and inconvenience occasioned.”
The lawyers clarified that the amount was being sought as compensation and settlement, and was not an award of damages by any court.
Musa was given seven calendar days from the effective date of receiving the letter to meet the demands, while he was required to acknowledge receipt within 24 hours.
The lawyers warned that failure to respond could lead to legal action seeking damages, injunctions against further publication, disclosure orders, interest and legal costs.
They added that if the matter was not resolved satisfactorily within the stipulated period, El-Rufai would consider commencing court proceedings.
