The family of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai has demanded that Minister of Defence Christopher Musa (rtd.) provide evidence to support his allegation that the former governor planned killings in Southern Kaduna while in office or publicly retract the claim.
The family made the demand in a statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on Monday, following comments attributed to the Defence Minister during a live edition of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3.
According to the family, General Musa alleged during the programme that El-Rufai “actively planned killings” in Southern Kaduna when he served as governor of Kaduna State.
The family described the allegation as “grave” and expressed concern that it was made without evidence being presented to substantiate the claim.
While acknowledging the Defence Minister’s right to express his views, the family said that right did not exempt serious allegations from scrutiny or the requirement for supporting evidence.
“The El-Rufai family is equally entitled to demand that such serious allegations be substantiated with credible evidence,” the statement said.
The family has therefore given Musa seven days from the date of the statement to either provide evidence supporting the allegation or issue a full public retraction and apology through the same television medium where the claim was made.
It warned that failure to comply within the seven-day period would compel the family to consider legal action.
“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,” the statement said.
El-Rufai, a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and former Kaduna governor, is currently identified by the family as an opposition leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The statement was issued in Abuja on September 7 on behalf of the El-Rufai family by Mohammed Bello El-Rufai.
