Defence Minister denies resignation rumours, threatens legal action

Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (retd.), on Tuesday dismissed reports that he had resigned from office, describing the claims as false and vowing to institute legal action against those responsible.

Speaking to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Musa said he had never discussed resigning from office and was surprised by the reports circulating online.

“I am not going anywhere. I have never discussed this. I don’t even know who the person is that brought that information. But whoever it is, we will take legal action against them,” he said.

The minister, who arrived at the Villa at about 3pm and left shortly after 4pm, insisted that the meeting with the President was a routine security briefing and not connected to any resignation.

He said the President was pleased with the military’s performance in tackling insecurity across the country.

“I just came back from briefing Mr President on the current security situation, and he is very happy with us. We are going to continue doing well,” Musa said.

He alleged that the resignation rumours were being spread by individuals seeking to undermine the government’s security efforts, arguing that recent improvements in the security situation had unsettled some interests.

“We are surprised. I was shocked when I saw that. I don’t know where that came from. But you always expect that there will be people who will not be happy when things are going well.