Nigeria: Nasir El-Rufai

In 2009, Amsterdam & Partners LLP represented the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, Nigeria, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who at the time was facing a series of politically motivated accusations. His reputation was successfully defended and rehabilitated, and now Mallam El-Rufai currently serves as Governor of the State of Kaduna.

In this White Paper from 2009, Amsterdam & Partners LLP presented the case of El-Rufai in the context of Nigeria’s political evolution.

Like a pendulum, modern Nigerian political history follows a distinct pattern, swinging to-and-from two points, oscillating between reform and the status quo.

Under the leadership of President Umaru Yar’Adua of the People’s Democratic Party during the late 2000s, the Nigerian pendulum began its swing back to the status quo by repealing many of the preceding administration’s reforms. Unfortunately, this assault on progress targeted more than just legislation, but voices of dissent as well.

Mallam Nasir El-Rufai the former head of the Federal Capital Territory of Abuja, was one of those voices. As a result, El-Rufai quickly found himself in the government’s crosshairs, where he sustained false, frivolous, yet relentless allegations of criminal misconduct, morally deficient character, and self-serving political principles.

The following White Paper, titled “Reform vs. Status Quo: The Campaign Against Nasir El-Rufai and the Degeneration of Progress in Nigeria,” details not only Amsterdam & Partners’ successful defense of Mr. Nasir El-Rufai, but also the firm’s concerted effort to aid our friend in preserving and promoting a progressive Nigeria.

Download the full PDF here.