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, December 1 - 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

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