Backers of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai have engaged a Washington-based lobbying firm. They're pushing back against his prosecution by Nigeria's anti-corruption agency.
The El-Rufai Support Group Association made the disclosure on Wednesday. They've retained Vanguard Africa to engage American officials and international bodies.
El-Rufai faces trial for abuse of office and financial misconduct. The charges stem from his tenure as Kaduna's governor.
According to the group, Vanguard Africa will coordinate outreach efforts across multiple fronts. These include the US administration, Congress, and pro-democracy organisations.
The engagement reflects a regulatory filing submitted in the United States. It marks an unusual strategy for a Nigerian political figure under investigation.
The support group maintains El-Rufai's innocence categorically. They contend the allegations against him lack merit entirely.
Since mid-February, El-Rufai has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, or ICPC. Court proceedings have repeatedly delayed his bail hearings, according to media reports.
In their statement, the group described him as an accomplished reformer and senior statesman. They highlighted his decades of public service in Nigeria.
The support group says the case reveals troubling procedural irregularities. They've flagged what they call alarming patterns in how the matter is being handled.
According to ERSGA, El-Rufai's treatment reflects deeper problems in Nigeria's democracy. They argue it's symptomatic of a crisis threatening core institutions.
Vanguard Africa will also handle other activities on ERSGA's behalf in America. The firm's work represents an escalation in the former governor's defence strategy.
The group's decision to go international signals serious concern about domestic proceedings. It underscores tensions between anti-corruption enforcement and due process protections in Nigeria.
