Middle Belt Forum Backs Defence Minister, Wants ICC To Probe El-Rufai

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) has expressed solidarity with the minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, over his recent comments on former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, calling for an independent investigation into allegations surrounding the former governor’s administration.

The forum also demanded that El-Rufai be charged and handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The MBF reacted to the controversy generated by Musa’s comments, with the El-Rufai family demanding that the minister provide evidence to substantiate his allegations or apologise.

Addressing a press conference in Kaduna, yesterday, MBF national spokesman, Luka Binniyat, said the forum was speaking as a witness to the events that occurred in the state during the former governor’s tenure.

The group called for a review of unresolved cases of mass killings in Kaduna during El-Rufai’s tenure, including the circumstances surrounding the kidnapping and murder of the Agwom Adara, Dr Raphael Maiwada Galadima, in October 2018.

It further called for an investigation into deaths and injuries allegedly associated with controversial demolition exercises carried out during the administration.

Also at the conference, the national president of Atyap Development Community Association, Dr Samuel Achie, said El-Rufai family should apologise to the people of Kaduna State rather than demand an apology from Musa over his comments.

On the circumstances surrounding the death of the former Agwom Adara, former president of the Southern Kaduna Peoples Union (SOKAPU) and president of the Adara Development Association, Dio Awemi Maisamari, said the incident was not simply an abduction.

Maisamari alleged that the traditional ruler had been under pressure to accept the balkanisation of the Adara Chiefdom before his death.

The MBF said the controversy surrounding Musa’s comments should be resolved through investigation rather than intimidation, insults or political confrontation, insisting that victims of violence and other alleged abuses during the period deserved justice.

Meanwhile, the El-Rufai family rejected Musa’s allegation, demanding that the minister provide credible evidence to substantiate his claim or publicly retract it and apologise.

In a statement signed by Hon. Mohammed Bello El-Rufai on behalf of the family, he said Musa made the allegation during a live broadcast of Politics Today on Channels Television on September 3 without presenting evidence to support the claim.

The family said while the minister was entitled to express his personal opinion, it was equally entitled to demand that such a serious allegation be backed by credible evidence.

It gave 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 medium where it was made.

It warned that failure to comply would leave it with no option but to pursue “all appropriate legal remedies available under the law” over what it described as unsubstantiated allegations.