The following is a statement we put out today on the Nasir El-Rufai case in Nigeria.

Nigeria’s El-Rufai a Victim of Trial by Headline, Say Lawyers

Crass tactics of intimidation and slander against Nasir el-Rufai reveal political persecution by the State, argue defense lawyers

LONDON, April 17 — Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, the highly regarded former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Abuja, Nigeria, has been relentlessly targeted in recent weeks by state-controlled media with aggressive slander and false accusations, prompting his international defense team to denounce this “trial by headline.”

Viewed as a popular potential political competitor, the Nigerian
government has initiated a politically motivated investigation against
El-Rufai, which is ironically being carried out by the once-respected
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), presenting a slew of
implausible charges related to his exercise of discretion to allocate
land in accordance with Nigeria’s Constitution and the Land Use Act,
during his tenure as Minister of Abuja between 2003 and 2007.

“The EFCC’s ongoing attempts to slander and taint the reputation of
El-Rufai are not indicative of a legitimate case, but rather illustrate
their fear and willingness to violate the law in persecuting a
potential political opponent,” said Robert Amsterdam, a Canadian lawyer
on the international defense team. “There are few other individuals who
have opened themselves up to such a high level of scrutiny, and even
fewer who have testified before Senate hearings and published lengthy
responses to even the most absurd allegations.”

The false accusations against El-Rufai attempt to argue that in his
duties as FCT Minister he was allegedly responsible for improper
allocation of land. However, any review of the records in Abuja, (FCT)
clearly show that all beneficiaries of these alleged parcel
distributions were ordinary Nigerian citizens, and that El-Rufai’s
conduct was strictly in accordance with the laws of Nigeria and the
objective of the restoration of the Abuja Master Plan and the City’s
economic revitalization.

“In many countries, Nasir El-Rufai’s excellent stewardship of the
Abuja region would receive accolades and admiration,” said Chief Rotimi
Akeredolu SAN, the lead Nigerian defense lawyer on the case.
“Unfortunately, in our country today a capable and ethical politician
like El-Rufai is persecuted to stamp out any alternative opinions,
while those who have looted the treasury walk free on the streets.”

The defense team for El-Rufai vigorously denounces the government’s
slander campaign of false accusations, and announces that a new
international campaign will be initiated to bring justice to this case,
highlighting the unlawful actions of the EFCC in pursuing groundless,
political cases.

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