Middle Belt Forum wants ICC to probe El-Rufai

The International Criminal Court has been urged to probe former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam El Rufai.

The Middle Belt Forum (MBF) said El Rufai was complicit in the mass killings that took place in the North Central State.

The Forum also supported Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), insisting he should not apologise to former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over recent allegations.

At a press conference in Kaduna, MBF National Spokesman, Luka Binniyat, called for an independent investigation into killings and payments to bandits during El-Rufai’s tenure, stressing that if found culpable, the former governor should face prosecution for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court, ICC in the Hague, Netherland.

The controversy stems from Musa’s remarks on Channels Television, where he accused El-Rufai of deliberately enabling violence and admitted payments to bandits.

El-Rufai has since denied the claims, demanding a public apology and N10bn compensation.Rejecting the demand, MBF argued that Musa’s comments reflected the lived experiences of Southern Kaduna communities.

Binniyat cited incidents including the 2016 arrest of Goska’s District Head, the dethronement of B’Gwam Kurama, Dr Ishaku Sabo Damina, and the detention of Adara leaders during the Kajuru crisis.

He also recalled inflammatory statements by El-Rufai over casualty figures in 2019.The forum further accused the former administration of mishandling communal crises, imposing prolonged curfews, dismissing workers, and demolishing homes. It demanded a review of unresolved killings, including the 2018 murder of Agwom Adara, Dr Raphael Maiwada Galadima.

“The MBF believes El-Rufai should be charged with crimes against humanity and handed over to the ICC for proper prosecution,” Binniyat declared.