El-Rufai’s supporters hire US lobbying firm over ICPC prosecution

Supporters of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, have hired a United States-based lobbying and advocacy firm to raise concerns about his ongoing prosecution by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC.

The supporters, under the aegis of the El-Rufai Support Group Association, ERSGA, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

The group stressed that it had retained Vanguard Africa, an international advocacy organisation headquartered in Washington, DC, to spearhead engagements with key stakeholders in the United States and the wider international community.

It noted that the move was aimed at drawing attention to what it described as growing concerns over the rule of law, due process and the state of democratic institutions in Nigeria.

According to the group, Vanguard Africa would coordinate outreach efforts to officials within the US administration, members of Congress, government agencies, pro-democracy organisations and multilateral institutions.

ERSGA explained that the arrangement was reflected in a regulatory filing published in the United States.

It linked the campaign to the legal troubles faced by El-Rufai, who is currently standing trial over allegations of abuse of office, financial misconduct and fraud during his time as governor of Kaduna State.

Defending the former governor, the group maintained that the allegations against him lack merit and insisted that he remains innocent of the charges.

“Vanguard Africa will plan and execute outreach to U.S. Administration officials, Congress, relevant bureaus and agencies, prodemocracy institutions, and multilateral stakeholders on behalf of ERSGA, among other activities in the United States.

“Nasir El-Rufai is an accomplished reformer and senior statesman with decades of public service. According to media reports, since mid-February he has been detained by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, while courts have repeatedly delayed bail hearings.

“ERSGA categorically rejects the ICPC accusations and maintains El-Rufai’s innocence, pointing to a series of alarming procedural irregularities.

“The treatment of Governor El-Rufai is not an isolated incident — it is a symptom of a deeper crisis threatening Nigeria’s democratic institutions,” the statement partly read.