Defence for Nasir El-Rufai Launches Seminal White Paper 'Reform vs. Status Quo'

Nasir El-Rufai

1 Dec 2009 10:38 Africa/Lagos


Defence for Nasir El-Rufai Launches Seminal White Paper 'Reform vs. Status Quo'

New Report Defends Nigeria's Reformers from Politically Motivated Attacks; Examines Trend of Corruption of Current Leadership

LONDON, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Today international lawyer Robert Amsterdam released an important new report detailing the political persecution of the popular former politician Nasir El-Rufai, and sharply criticizing the government's broad campaign against Nigeria's leading reformers.


Entitled "Reform vs. Status Quo: The Campaign Against Nasir El-Rufai and the Degeneration of Progress in Nigeria," the 48-page white paper presents the accomplishments of El-Rufai's career, summarizing and disproving a series of false accusations made by political opponents, and arguing that the current anti-reform position of the government fits within long-standing historical patterns of periods of reform followed by regression.


"We are presenting this white paper not only to clear the name of Nasir El-Rufai, but also to urge a renewed level of international focus on good governance, transparency, and anti-corruption efforts in Nigeria," said Robert Amsterdam. "Nigeria is too important and too big to be allowed to fail. I have great optimism for the country's future, and I believe in El-Rufai's commitment to principles."


The white paper also contains a foreword endorsing El-Rufai's defence effort written by the Honorable Kanu G. Agabi, the former attorney general: "The things that El-Rufai has had to do for the nation are difficult things. He has had to tread upon hard and difficult ground and to step on many and often very big toes. When he had to take difficult decisions, he did not hesitate and his courage never failed him."


Nasir El-Rufai served as Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises from 1999-2003 and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and a member of the Federal Executive Council, the highest decision-making body of Nigeria, from 2003-2007. Since coming into power, the government of President Umaru Yar'Adua has assailed El-Rufai and other reformers with a slew of accusations and politically motivated charges. Most recently, the government attempted to deny El-Rufai consular service to renew his passport, while his wife and children were temporarily detained without reason at the Lagos airport.


El-Rufai has recently announced his intention to return home to Nigeria this month after having completing his post-graduate studies at Harvard University.


"Reform vs. Status Quo: The Campaign Against Nasir El-Rufai and the Degeneration of Progress in Nigeria" is available for public download at www.el-rufai.org and www.robertamsterdam.com.


Robert Amsterdam is the founding partner of the Toronto- and London, U.K.-based law firm Amsterdam & Peroff. In practice since 1980, Amsterdam & Peroff is an international business law firm with unique experience in sensitive cases.


CONTACT: James T. Kimer


+1 (917) 355-0717


james.kimer@ksocialmedia.com


Source: Amsterdam & Peroff

CONTACT: James T. Kimer of Amsterdam & Peroff, +1-917-355-0717,
james.kimer@ksocialmedia.com


Web Site: http://www.robertamsterdam.com/



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